Campbell: ‘We only have ourselves to blame as MPs’
May 16 2009 by David Black, The Journal
A VETERAN Labour MP says he has no regrets about his decision to voluntarily repay thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded expenses – despite it putting him at odds with some of his fellow MPs.
Blyth Valley’s Ronnie Campbell announced earlier this week that he would repay about £6,000 in allowances used to buy furniture and fittings for his second home in London.
Mr Campbell apologised to his constituents for using the expenses system to help furnish the flat which he moved into about five years ago, saying it was “wrong”.
Mr Campbell said he has been “ostracised” by some MPs who say he is wrong to repay the allowances, because it amounts to an admission of guilt when he has done nothing wrong.
“Some of my colleagues have made it clear they think I am wrong in doing this, because we have not broken the rules, but I have no regrets about my decision. To me it is a matter of my conscience, which told me I could not justify some of these claims to my constituents.
“I realise that the Parliamentary rules say we can claim for things like furniture but personally I feel we should not be allowed to claim for anything that is not essential.
“I have been absolutely shocked at some of the claims which have been made under the second homes allowance and I have had a few choice remarks from my constituents about this whole affair. We only have ourselves to blame as MPs because we have allowed all this to happen.”
Mr Campbell says he has written to Sir Christopher Kelly, who is carrying out an inquiry into MPs’ allowances, setting out his ideas for reform. “Expenses should be allowed for essential items to furnish a second home, otherwise it will penalise MPs who are not rich.
“I believe these allowances should only be paid in the first year after an MP is elected, and then that is it. The big argument is whether things like a TV are essential for an MP to be able to do his job, but to me the taxpayer should not pay for things like that.”
Earlier this week, Mr Campbell told The Journal: “The utility bills, the rent, the interest that is fair enough, that is legit. But furniture, bedding, towels, you name it, that should be down to the MP.”
Page 2: Atkinson: ‘I’ve been totally transparent on expenses’
