Beaumont renews expenses pledge as Folkestone & Hythe MP fails in expenses challenge (Shepway Liberal Democrats)

Beaumont renews expenses pledge as Folkestone & Hythe MP fails in expenses challenge

February 11, 2010 9:59 AM

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Lynne Beaumont has renewed her challenge to other Parliamentary candidates to make an expenses pledge to voters after Conservative MP Michael Howard failed in his appeal against an order to pay back more than £7,000 in expenses.

Lynne Beaumont has pledged to claim no 2nd home expenses if elected as MP, to commute to Westminster and to be a full time MP with no other paid job or directorship. She is calling on other candidates in Folkestone and Hythe to make the same pledge.

The report on Sir Thomas's investigation into the Additional Costs Allowances (ACA) covers the period from April 2004-March 2009, and says: "Mr Howard was paid a total of £18,058.45 over the five-year period for the costs of employing a gardening company.

"The company has stated that one-third of the work related to maintenance of the house, resulting in a gardening cost of £12,039. That exceeds £1,000 a year by a total of £7,039."

Lynne Beaumont commented:

"Many people would be shocked to learn that Mr Howard had designated his constituency home a second home, and that he had claimed so much from the tax payer to maintain it. If elected, I will claim no 2nd home expenses. Many people commute from here to London daily, and I would do do too.

"I would be a full-time MP and have no other paid job or directorships, unlike Mr Howard. Folkestone and Hythe deserves a full time MP with a straightforward pledge on expenses. Other candidates should match my pledge, or voters will be rightly suspicious."

Shepway Liberal Democrats