Expenses
There has obviously been a lot of public fury over the expenses of politicians. Like you, the greed and poor judgement of some politicians has angered me. Therefore I thought it would be in yours and my interest to let you know where I stand on the expenses issue. I want to also make it clear that I do not and never have owned any land, owned a business, property or car. I don’t come from a rich family and my Mother is a dinner lady and my Father is a security guard. I am not retired, I work full-time as a project and outreach officer at York St John University and I work also as a City of York Councillor for Holgate ward. My register of interests can be found here.
Expenses as a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
As a prospective parliamentary candidate I am not paid, nor do I receive any expenses. I personally contribute to the costs of my election from the wages I receive from my employment at York St John University. The rest of my election costs are met by Labour in York. A lot of my election material is personally designed, printed, delivered and paid for by me. My full election expenses for the period between when the general election is called and when it takes place will be given to the electoral commission.
Expenses as a Councillor
I was elected as Councillor for Holgate ward on 3 May 2007. Councillor expenses can be viewed on the Council’s website under the profile for each Councillor. Mine can be viewed here. However I have provided a full break down of taxed allowances below. This uses figures obtained from City of York Council:
…..03 May 2007 – 24 May 2008
…..Basic Allowance*= £5790.05
…..Special Responsibility Allowance = £3590.31 (Chair of Executive Member for Children & Young
…..People’s Services and Advisory Panel)
…..Telephone Allowance=£134.86
…..Internet Allowance=£216.13
…..Total = £9731.35
…..Additional Expenses**: £50 (Desk with built in filing cabinet from Argos for £54.99. I paid the
…..additional £4.99)
…..25 May 2008 – 22 May 2009
…..Basic Allowance*= £7192.50
…..Special Responsibility Allowance = £5985.52 (Chair of Gambling and Licensing Acts Committee)
…..Telephone Allowance=£149.76
…..Internet Allowance=£270.00 (including £30 for telephone line installation)
…..Total = £13,597.78
…..Additional Expenses: £0 (I paid for my own taxis on a training course)
*Since being elected basic allowance for Councillors has increased on the following dates:
…..3rd May 2007 = £6,300
…..1st Feb 2008 = £7,000
…..1st April 2008 = £7,171.56
These rise of 1st Feb 2008 was voted on by full Council after an independent remuneration panel recommended a basic allowance level of £8,880. It was also agreed that the basic allowance be increased annually in line with pay awards to all Council employees. This is the reason for the rise given on 1st April 2008.
**I did not pay tax on this expense claim. However the £54.99 price tag of the Argos desk with built in filing cabinet included VAT.
On election to City of York Council, the Council ensured that I had a Toshiba Satellite Pro a120 laptop, a HP Laserjet P2015n printer and an internet connection so that I could carry out my work as a Councillor. The Council provides plain paper and ink cartridges to a limited extent. The Council does not provide Councillors with headed paper, business cards, photocopying, envelopes or postage. Back bench Councillors also have no secretary or individual office space. Each political group does however have a political assistant and a group meeting room. All Councillors are provided with either an internet connection or the cost of an internet connection along with £12.48 a month towards telephone calls. Councillors also have access to a shared members lounge.
Expenses as Children and Young People’s Champion
I was elected as York’s Children and Young People’s Champion in 2008. This position was elected by the children and young people of York and began on 25 May 2008. No additional payments, expenses or support is given to me in for this role by the Council or the Labour Party. I have recently been supporting the Press’ ‘Live Now, Drive Later’ Campaign. All costs of letters, envelopes, postage and DVD copying have been met by me.
Attendance at Council Meetings
According to figures obtained from the Council, below is my Councillor attendance record:
…..May 2007 – May 2008
…..Expected Attendance = 41
…..Actual Attendance= 39
…..Apologies Received = 2
…..% Attendance= 95%
…..May 2008 – May 2009
…..Expected Attendance = 29
…..Actual Attendance= 27
…..Apologies Received = 2
…..% Attendance=93%
The Press have previously commented on my high attendance record at Council meetings.
I have attended other Council meetings that have not been recorded in these figures. This includes my attendance at all Children and Young People’s Working Group meetings in my capacity as York’s Children and Young People’s Champion. Other meetings not recorded include meetings with constituents, the local Labour Party and external organizations.
I have also worked as a teaching assistant in schools, gone on the beat with police, volunteered at a homeless charity in my ward, swept the streets with road sweepers and personally cleaned up graffiti, all of which will not be recorded in these figures. It is rare that I do not have a meeting at least once every two days. It is also rare that I do not have a least one piece of casework or a public query to deal with every day.
My Integrity Pledges
I have already commented on my views regarding expenses for The Sunday Times, The Press and Progress. My comments for Progress helped kick start a Progress campaign for Labour Parliamentary Candidates to sign a ‘we do not seek office for personal gain’ pledge.
This Progress pledge means:
…..• As a parliamentary candidate I will subscribe to high standards of integrity, transparency,
…..accountability and financial economy;
…..• I seek elected office not for personal gain but to serve the public and our democracy, which I
…..consider an honour and a privilege;
…..• As an MP I will publish my expenses online within a month of submitting
…..them and publicise them annually in full to constituents;
…..• As an MP I will hold regular meetings with my community and will regularly report back to my
…..constituency party;
…..• I will apply the principle of best value to all decisions I make which involve the use of public
…..money to cover my duties, including for travel and accommodation.
My personal pledge as an MP:
…..• As an MP I will annually carry out 5 days a year non-political work in my constituency.
…..• While carrying out this non-political work I will donate my wages to charities who carry out work
…..in my constituency.
It is my belief that only through carrying out voluntary work like working as a teaching assistant, cleaning up graffiti and sweeping the streets, can MPs maintain their feet on the ground and understand the issues affecting ordinary working men and women in their constituency. I am also not afraid of getting my hands dirty.
