Jordan's Journal

The expenses scandal has been a painful time for anyone involved in politics. I am frankly saddened that the reputation of Parliament, and the majority of hard working MPs, has been tarnished by a greedy few. That’s why the system needs root and branch reform. For the record, I should say that I condemn any MP who have abused the system, regardless of which side of the House they sit.

Today, I denounced Colchester's Lib Dem MP Bob Russell for his expenses under the current system. Mr Russell refused to publish his claims before the official publication by the House of Commons on Friday. I can now see why – I could never justify spending public money on food, furniture and toilet roll! Bob Russell really has been flushing public money down to toilet.

I have always worked in London, and for a number of years I commuted to Parliament on a daily basis. While I understand the need for some MPs to have a second home in London, Parliament’s new ‘family friendly’ hours have reduced the need for late night sittings. I believe the Palace of Westminster is not any more difficult to reach than the office of the average Colchester commuter.

While Colchester's Lib Dem MP Bob Russell maintains a second home in London, many of his Lib Dem colleagues do not. Cambridge Lib Dem MP David Howarth commutes daily to Westminster.

I think it’s indefensible, and just plain wrong, that MPs claim money for food. Like most people, I pay for my own meals at home and at work, so why are MPs any different? Receipts show that in one year, Bob Russell - a parliamentary spokesman for weight watchers! - claimed over £2,600.

Mr Russell also claimed hundreds of pounds to pay for ‘notice board fees’ and ‘postage fees’ from Colchester Liberal Democrats. It is now clear that public money has been subsidizing the Lib Dems in Colchester.

I have spent a lot of time over the past few months meeting people in Colchester who are struggling financially because of the current economic downturn. What they see in the newspapers and on the TV news has quite rightly outraged them, just as much as it has me.

More details on MPs Expenses, including those of Bob Russell MP, can be found at
http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/

The local election results were a poor result for Labour in Essex. However, I am delighted that Julie Young was re-elected to represent Wivenhoe St Andrews, bucking a national trend that saw many local hard working Labour Councillors loose their seats.

I am particularly sad that Cllr Dave Haris was not elected to represent Maypole. However, despite the trend we saw across the country, Dave put in a tremendous showing and lost by a mere 118 votes.

Labour Party activists who campaigned to warn against the rise of the BNP can feel vindicated and their work has helped to ensure BNP Councillors were not elected here in Colchester. However, the results should serve as a warning to anyone who thought the BNP is not a threat in Essex that this is not the case and that our anti-BNP campaigning has been wholly justified.

I want to thank everyone in Colchester who voted Labour in yesterday's Local Elections, as well as everyone who supported and worked to re-elect Julie. I'm pleased that Colchester keeps the Red Flag flying in an otherwise very blue Essex!