Call for review of MPs’ expenses


THE leader of Maidstone Council has called for a review of the expenses system forMPsin thewake of “Grantgate”. Downs Mail reported last month thatMaid-


stone and Weald MP Helen Grant had been claiming £1,666 for a second home from March 2012, before she was appointed min- ister for justice and equalities. This is despite the fact that she lives in Kingswood, Surrey, where the local MP is ineligible to claim the same expense as it is less than an hour’s com- mute fromWestminster. Council leader Chris Garland said he felt


there was an urgent need for a review of the expenses system, which he believed was “to- tally wrong”. Cllr Garland, a fellow Conservative, said: “I thinkHelen Grant needs to consider her posi-


ANNWiddecombe was outraged by claims from Helen Grant’s team that the past and present local MPs shared similar living arrangements. Astatement on behalf of


Mrs Grant claimed that her predecessor “also rented a London flat and lived with her mother when in the con- stituency”. There was also a suggestion that Miss Widdecombe held some of her surgeries in London. But the former MP (pictured), whose 23-


year tenure as Maidstone and the Weald MP ended when she stepped down in 2010, told Downs Mail: “I never rented a flat in London. I had lived in London for years be-


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tion on expenses. The current system erodes trust in politics and in politicians and the public perception is that people are only in it for themselves and feathering their ownnests. “This does not just impact onWestminster


but also on local politicians, and the system needs to be changed to ensure that trust in politicians is not denigrated even further. “The situation is very dangerous for British democracy.” Cllr Garland refused to be drawn further on


the controversy, but said: “Our MP needs to work in the constituency and be seen to be doing so.” Stephen Paine, deputy chairman (political)


of Maidstone andWeald Conservatives said: “Helen works extremely hard for her con- stituency, which I know she cherishes, but


fore becoming anMP and was already buy- ing a home there. A year after I was elected, I bought a small bungalow in Sut- ton Valence, which was my constituency home until my last parliament. When my father died, my mother came to live with me in London and stayed until her death. “I continued to hold regular surgeries in Maidstone throughout the whole seven years I was a minister and the three years I was in shadow cabinet. Occasionally, constituents came to see me in London (I remember a delegation about the Loose sewer) but usually because they worked there or needed me very urgently. “I do not regard either statement as derogatory or libellous, but both are mis- taken and I would be glad if neither were to be repeated.”


somewhere along the line she hasmisjudged the rights andwrongs on this one. “I think IPSA [which sets the rules on ex- penses] especially has a lot to answer for. In a high-stress environment,MPs need clear and sensible advice.” Stuart Jeffery, the Green Party's opponent against Mrs Grant in the 2010 general elec- tion, said: “It seems that she is allowed to claim for a second home despite having her first home close to London. It might not be against the letter of the rules, but it is clearly against the spirit of them. “She clearly has no time for Maidstone’s constituents and seems to have complete dis- regard for the spirit of expenses. “HelenGrant should resign asMPfor Maid- stone and theWeald.”


Ann denies accommodation claims Mobile home can stay


MAIDSTONE Council has accepted a res- ident’s request to continue living in amo- bile home at HighWinds, Gallants Lane, East Farleigh, for another three years. The planning application was accepted


on condition that the building is re- moved before October 1, 2015. The coun- cil said this was necessary to safeguard the character and appearance of the open countryside.


Trees may be felled MOLangley has applied to fell five silver birch trees at Brancaster, Rectory Lane, Sutton Valence. Maidstone Council will determine the proposal, which includes work to an- other silver birch and a larch tree.


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