News Cawsey reported over cash breach
Goole MP Ian Cawsey has been reported to the parliamentary standards commission for using taxpayers' money to send out letters damning the Tories' stance on the proposed fire cuts in Goole.
The letters, funded by the MP's Communications Allowance, were sent out to hundreds of residents who signed a Labour Party petition to oppose the downgrading of Goole Fire Station.
The complaints has been made by the local Tory group.
Andrew Percy, the Conservatives' prospective parliamentary candidate for Goole, claimed it was a "clear breach" of parliamentary conduct to distribute letters using money from the Communications Allowance.
Mr Cawsey's team deny this categorically.
Mr Percy said: "This is a clear breach of acceptable conduct. He shouldn't be doing that and we had no choice but to report it."
Mr Cawsey's team say it Is perfectly acceptable for an MP to write to his constituents using funds from the £10,000 communications budget.
A spokesman said Mr Cawsey was right to send out the letters criticising Tory councillors for their stance on the fire cuts.
She said: "The vote by Tory councillors on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to support the downgrading of Goole Fire Station was a kick in the teeth for our town and no amount of intimidation from them now is going to stop that point being made over and over again.
"It would be a disgrace if the Tories are really saying that Ian should be gagged from telling the truth about their votes and if a complaint is made we shall robustly defend our actions."
She added: "We were contacted by thousands of local people regarding this proposal - the largest number for any issue for a few years. Of course, Ian is going to respond to them and let them know what he has done and what others have or, in this case, haven't done to support them. It is this kind of proactive work that has built Ian's excellent reputation as a constituency MP.
"Whilst it is understandable that the Tories would prefer their actions to be as little known as possible, this is Britain not Zimbabwe, and those who seek to undermine our town can expect to have that exposed to the public in an open and transparent way. It's about freedom of speech and democracy and we will continue to strongly defend such principles."
Published on 24th April 2008 in News.
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