Issues of the Day

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MPs' expenses

This is a new section of my website which I intend to use to write about important issues of the day, so that people know where I stand, and what the Labour Party and Government are doing.

Of course, the one issue which is dominating so much media coverage at the moment is that of MPs' expenses. You will all know that my attitude to expenses has always been that as Durham's MP I should claim only for things which I need to do the job properly, and to be open and honest about them. I have always put details of my expenses on my website voluntarily each year. Because of that I had no concern about the Freedom of Information request for details to be released, or by the coverage of the issue in the press. It is therefore totally shocking and outrageous that the Liberal Democrats are trying to suggest in some election literature that I tried to stop the release of this information: nothing could be further from the truth.

As evidence of my open and honest attitude I invited the Northern Echo and the Journal to investigate my receipts. They, along with the Telegraph, have found nothing out of the ordinary and certainly nothing scandalous.

As well as lying about my record on expenses, the Lib Dems go further. In order to mislead people, they don't point out that most of the money reported as my expenses in any one year goes to pay the salaries of my hard-working staff who provide a very valuable service to my constituents. They try to suggest that all of that money is given to me which is not true. A large percentage is also for office running costs like stationery and telephone bills, which are paid directly to the suppliers.

MPs from all political parties, including the Tories and Lib Dems, have been found to have been abusing the system and it is very important that this is not used as a party political issue. Instead all political parties have to come together to ensure that parliament is cleaned up and proper system of allowances is put in place. I have already voted to strengthen the system of scrutiny of MPs' expenses, ensure rigorous audit, end second home allowances for those in outer London, make MPs provide receipts for all claims, and provide oversight to staff contracts. These are all positive moves.

MPs expenses has become a huge political issue, and I totally understand your anger over it. I will continue to be as open, honest and transparent as I have always been on these issues because I know that as your MP I have a lot of trust placed in me, and I want you to be assured that I am working for you.

And I want us to talk about bigger issues too. Let's talk about the economy and jobs, schools and hospitals, housing and conservation, energy and transport. These are the issues that, when it comes down to it, will affect people far more. And when it comes to those issues, I know that Labour has the right agenda, and the Tories and the Lib Dems are lacking in real substantive policy on these and so many other issues.

I have spoken to many people around Durham who have expressed their anger and, again, I totally understand it. I am trying being open and honest and to reform the system. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems are stoking the fires of mistrust, and trying to crowbar in political advantage with their lies and spin, despite the fact that many of their MPs have been abusing the system in a way I certainly have not.