Learn lesson over expenses scandal, says MP (From Southend Standard)
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Learn lesson over expenses scandal, says Essex MP
1:00pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News
Mark Francois
A FRUGAL MP has said politicians must “learn lessons” from public outrage over outlandish expenses claims.
Mark Francois, the Tory MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, has claimed back just £15,283 over the last 18 months, including not a single penny on accommodation or travel.
In contrast, the Echo has revealed over the last few days how Conservative colleagues David Amess (Southend West), James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) and John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) have recouped nearly twice that amount over the same period, with large sums spent on taxis to and from London, overnight hotels in the capital and trips abroad.
Mr Francois, who was recently made a defence minister in David Cameron’s Government reshuffle, said he had tried to learn from the public backlash which followed the 2009 expenses scandal.
He said: “What happened with Parliamentary expenses in the previous Parliament quite rightly upset many members of the public.
“MPs of all parties, myself included, have attempted to learn lessons from this.
“All of our expenses are now monitored by an independent body to verify anything claimed by an MP in the course of their duties is legitimate.
"As an ex-Shadow Treasury spokesman, I have always been conscious that what we claim is public money and I intend to remain conscious of that in the future.”
Comments(10)
Olivia2847
says...
3:14pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Lastlaugh...
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3:38pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Keptquiettillnow
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3:44pm Sat 27 Oct 12
jolllyboy
says...
5:46pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Time to show our displeasure when the voting is here, maybe they will get the message. Shame on them - they never bother with my road when canvassing - scared or what.
APR
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5:50pm Sat 27 Oct 12
andy:)
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6:34pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Andy
shallotman
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7:29am Sun 28 Oct 12
Rochford Rob
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8:20am Sun 28 Oct 12
He should become an MP.
The expression 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em' comes to mind.
Mr. Pedantic
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9:02am Mon 29 Oct 12
v.randy says...
1:14pm Sat 27 Oct 12
There is nothing wrong with genuine expenses.
If your doing a good job serving the people and you incur costs in doing so then fine ,all we ask is transparency.
But these slime balls don't get it.
There is no need to be a hero and claim nothing, especially if in doing so it hinders your job .It's called being reasonable.
But these Politicians don't get the meaning of the word.