Thursday 21 May 2009

Expenses

Just in case anyone cares I have never claimed a single penny in expenses for any Council business. When first elected I did take a fax machine as I was told it was important to be able to receive information that way. I think the only time it was ever used I had to get a new printer ribbon as it had dried up completely. In the spirt of "payback" I'm more than happy to return it to the Civic Centre. When I was first elected I also took a shredder but it was so inadequate to the job I bought an industrial size one myself. I'd also be happy to return it to the civic centre! I didn't take the Filing Cabinet as I already had one myself. I don't get a council laptop or anything like that. On a related subject, I am actually in the process of reviewing my own entry onto the Register of Interests and will post that on my blog as soon as I have checked it over!

1 comment:

  1. Stephen Hughes is as guilty as the rest - fact which his running mate, Nick Wallis seeks to hide after removing factual comments from his blog whilst at the same time levelling comments at the other parties.

    Why not ask them?
    stephen-hughes@btconnect.com
    cindi.hughes@darlington.gov.uk
    or visit his web site
    http://www.stephenhughesmep.org

    anyone know of any more because this sort of factual information should inform voters next week

    The following is from Open Europe's press report of today

    Leading opponent of UK's 48-hour opt-out pockets thousands in MEP allowances
    The News of the World reported that Labour MEP Stephen Hughes is claiming his full £42,000 office allowance this year, despite his office rent being just £1,642. He also pays his wife, a local Councillor, £40,000 to be his "chief of staff". The paper notes that he is not breaking any rules, as the EU permits members to claim the full amount even if they do not spend it. It also notes that "he could have raked in hundreds of thousands from the benefit over his 25-year MEP career." Stephen Hughes is leading the European Parliament's campaign to end the UK's opt-out from the 48-hour week.

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