MPs' Expenses - My Pledges (Shas Sheehan )

MPs' Expenses - My Pledges

May 22, 2009 12:00 AM

Shas Sheehan, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate

Those MPs who thought it was okay to cheat the system should get their just desserts and be de-selected by their parties.

The scandal of MPs' expenses is damaging the reputation of all politicians - even those who have acted with honesty. It is a fact that no London Lib Dem MP claims the second home allowance.

Although Liberal Democrat MPs are not blameless, it must be said that they are not guilty of the grosser abuses that have been exposed. The Liberal Democrats recognised early on that the system was deeply flawed, and were the only party to vote en masse to oppose a Tory MP's Bill to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act in 2007. In contrast, Stephen Hammond MP voted, in effect, to keep MPs' expenses secret. A few weeks ago, he was absent from a vote on the full and complete registration of MPs' financial interests.

I am proud that the Liberal Democrats have been speaking out on reforming the old rotten system of MPs' expenses, and I would like to state here that, as a councillor on Richmond council (paid £9648 pa), I have never put in a claim for anything. In addition, I would welcome any move to ensure that parliamentary candidates are subject to full disclosure of outside interests, and that they declare any conflicts of interest that may arise as a consequence of outside interests.

If I am elected as your MP at the next General Election:

I pledge to publish any expense claim online on submission.

I pledge to not employ any family members

I pledge to advertise all jobs in the local newspaper - the Wimbledon Guardian

I pledge to not take on any other paid employment while I am an MP

I pledge to live in the constituency

I pledge to have a constituency office in the constituency

I pledge to hold regular twice weekly surgeries in the constituency at different locations