Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed needs to be defeated to punish the Liberal Democrats for Expenses and Sleazy Donations! Liberal Democrat MPs have been caught Troughing whilst their leader Nick Clegg failed to Oust Lord Rennard from his job for abusing expenses. Meanwhile the Michael Brown £2.4 Million Dodgy Donation has remained with the Liberal Democrats despite the fact it was stolen money, taken from innocent investors. This money has repeatedly been asked for by the victims of the crime yet the Liberal Democrats piously claim there is nothing wrong whilst indulging in partisan attacks on parties that have not taken stolen money.
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Alan Beith MP Berwick upon Tweed
Internal party documents obtained by The Sunday Telegraph show Lib Dem MPs being told how they could get the taxpayer to fund "material that does not meet [parliamentary] guidelines".
The MPs were schooled in the use of "grey areas" to get questionable spending through and advised: "There is lots of scope... so be imaginative!"
The revelations come only days after Mr Clegg told his party conference: "Only the Liberal Democrats will clean up Westminster [and] reform expenses."
The leaked documents were produced as late as March 2008 by officials at Lib Dem national headquarters, including Hilary Stephenson, the party's director of campaigns and elections, who will be running its next general election campaign.
By that stage, the issue of MPs' expenses had already become highly controversial and Mr Clegg was vocal in calling for reform.
However, the documents show that behind the scenes the attitude was different. One, entitled "The Seamless Web," an extract from the "Liberal Democrat Best Practice Manual," deals with the common practice of sending unsolicited "MP reports" to all local voters at public expense.
Under Commons Fees Office rules, such taxpayer-funded material must be confined to factual accounts of the MP's activities. Party political "propaganda", campaigning or fund-raising at public expense is banned.
However, the document then goes on to outline how MPs can get around this restriction: "Many MPs will wish to include material that does not meet the Fees Office guidelines, for example... appeals for help or money," it says.
In this case, advises the document, MPs should take out adverts – paid for by public funds – in their own party propaganda material. Although the ads themselves will be politically neutral – giving, for instance, the MP's contact details or surgery times – the taxpayer-funded income from them will subsidise the party-political content of the rest of the leaflet.
As the document advises MPs: "You can pay for the report by other means and then pay from the [taxpayer-funded] incidental expenses provision for advertising space."
Mr Clegg himself is among the Lib Dem MPs to have done this.
Another briefing, "MPs' allowance rules," tells MPs to "be imaginative" to get a party-political message across at public expense.
The "divide between party political campaigning and MP campaigning" was described as a "grey area" which could be exploited. Other "grey areas" included the use of the party logo on taxpayer-funded material, the use of "party slogans" and the "use of election candidates" outside the immediate few weeks of the election campaign itself.
Officially, the document says, party logos can be used only "a bit" in taxpayer-funded material, and in a "proportionate and discreet" way. But MPs are advised that this another "grey area" which can be manipulated.
The document also advises MPs that they should "spend up to the limit" and "should be making full use" of the various allowances. It points out that the total available for staffing, communications and "incidental expenses" added together is as much as £125,000 and advises MPs to "vire" or transfer money between the categories for maximum impact.
It adds: "Planning will mean that £125,000 of resource will be used to best effect."
However it fails to mention some restrictions on transfers in the rules – for instance, the stipulation that only 10 per cent of the staffing allowance can be transferred into communications.
Last year MPs of all parties spent almost £5 million under the communications allowance for material sometimes barely distinguishable from their election leaflets.
Most of the highest-claiming MPs under the allowance are in marginal seats, suggesting that taxpayers' money is being widely used for political campaigning.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6235338/Lib-Dems-tutored-MPs-on-how-to-exploit-their-expenses.html
Liberal Democrat MPs and candidates need to be defeated to punish the Liberal Democrats for Expenses and Sleazy Donations! Lib Dem MPs have been caught Troughing whilst their leader Nick Clegg failed to Oust Lord Rennard from his job for abusing expenses. Meanwhile the Michael Brown £2.4 Million Dodgy Donation has remained with the Liberal Democrats despite the fact it was stolen money, taken from innocent investors. This money has repeatedly been asked for by the victims of the crime yet the Liberal Democrats piously claim there is nothing wrong whilst indulging in partisan attacks on parties that have not taken stolen money.
Danny Alexander MP Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
Norman Baker MP Lewes
Alan Beith MP Berwick Upon Tweed
Tom Brake MP Carshalton and Wallington
Annette Brooke MP Mid Dorset and Poole North
Jeremy Browne MP Taunton
Malcolm Bruce MP Gordon
Paul Burstow MP Sutton and Cheam
Lorely Burt MP Solihull
Vincent Cable MP Twickenham
Menzies Campbell MP North East Fife
Alistair Carmichael MP Orkney and Shetland
Nick Clegg MP Sheffield Hallam
Edward Davey MP Kingston and Surbiton
Sue Doughty Guildford
Tim Farron MP Westmorland and Lonsdale
Lynne Featherstone MP Hornsey and Wood Green
Don Foster MP Bath
Andrew George MP St Ives
Sandra Gidley MP Romsey and Southampton North
Julia Goldsworthy MP Camborne and Redruth
Mike Hancock MP Portsmouth South
Evan Harris MP Oxford West and Abingdon
Nick Harvey MP North Devon
David Heath MP Somerton and Frome
John Hemming MP Birmingham Yardley
Martin Horwood MP Cheltenham
David Howarth MP Cambridge
Simon Hughes MP North Southwark and Bermondsey
Chris Huhne MP Eastleigh
Mark Hunter MP Cheadle
Susan Kramer MP Richmond Park
Norman Lamb MP North Norfolk
David Laws MP Yeovil
John Leech MP Manchester Withington
Michael Moore MP Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Greg Mulholland MP Leeds North West
Mark Oaten MP Winchester
Lembit Öpik MP Montgomeryshire
John Pugh MP Southport
Alan Reid MP Argyll and Bute
David Rendel Newbury Lib Dems
Willie Rennie MP Dunfermline and Fife West
Dan Rogerson MP North Cornwall
Paul Rowen MP Rochdale
Bob Russell MP Colchester
Steve Webb MP Thornbury and Yate
Mark Williams MP Ceredigion
Roger Williams MP Brecon and Radnorshire
Stephen Williams MP Bristol West
Claire Kelley Harrogate and Knaresborough
Richard Younger Ross MP Newton Abbot
Madeline Kirk York Outer
Sal Brinton Watford
Sandy Walkington St Albans
Annette Brooke MP Mid Dorset and North Poole
Chris Huhne MP Eastleigh
Duncan Hames Chippenham
Stephen Gilbert St Austell and Newquay
Sue Doughty Guildford
Terrye Teverson Truro and Falmouth
Karen Gillard Cornwall South
Liz Leffman Meon Valley
Tessa Munt Wells
Sarah Carr Hereford and South Herefordshire
Duncan Hames Chippenham
Mike Bell Weston Super Mare Lib Dem
Henry Vann Bedford Liberal Democrat
Sue Farrant Dorset West Lib Dems
Stephen Robinson Chelmsford
Sally Morgan Devon Central Lib Dems
Richard Burt Worcestershire West Lib Dems
Adam Symons Devon West and Torridge LibDems
Heather Kidd Ludlow Lib Dems
Julian Brazil Totnes Lib Dems
Stephen Lloyd Eastbourne Lib Dem
Liz Leffman Meon Valley Lib Dems
Danny Alexander MP Norman Baker MP Alan Beith MP Tom Brake MP
Annette Brooke MP Jeremy Browne MP Malcolm Bruce MP Paul Burstow MP
Lorely Burt MP Alistair Carmichael MP Michael Carr MP Nick Clegg MP
Vincent Cable MP Menzies Campbell MP Nick Clegg MP Chris Huhne MP
Edward Davey MP Chris Davies MP Sue Doughty Tim Farron MP Lynne Featherstone MP Don Foster MP Andrew George MP Sandra Gidley MP Julia Goldsworthy MP Mike Hancock MP Evan Harris MP Nick Harvey MP David Heath MP John Hemming MP Martin Horwood MP David Howarth MP Simon Hughes MP Chris Huhne MP Mark Hunter MP Paul Keetch MP Susan Kramer MP Norman Lamb MP David Laws MP John Leech MP Michael Moore MP Greg Mulholland MP
Mark Oaten MP Lembit Öpik MP John Pugh MP Alan Reid MP
David Rendel Willie Rennie MP Dan Rogerson MP Paul Rowen MP
Bob Russell MP Steve Webb MP Mark Williams MP Roger Williams MP
Stephen Williams MP Claire Kelley Harrogate and Knaresborough
Richard Younger Ross MP Newton Abbot Madeline Kirk York Outer
Sal Brinton Watford Sandy Walkington St Albans Annette Brooke MP Mid Dorset and North Poole Sandra Gidley MP Chris Huhne MP Sue Doughty Guildford
Stephen Gilbert St Austell and Newquay Terrye Teverson Truro and Falmouth
Karen Gillard Cornwall South Liz Leffman Meon Valley Tessa Munt Wells
Sarah Carr Hereford and South Herefordshire Duncan Hames Chippenham
Liberal Democrat MPs and candidates need to be defeated to punish the Liberal Democrats for Expenses and Sleazy Donations! Lib Dem MPs have been caught Troughing whilst their leader Nick Clegg failed to Oust Lord Rennard from his job for abusing expenses. Meanwhile the Michael Brown £2.4 Million Dodgy Donation has remained with the Liberal Democrats despite the fact it was stolen money, taken from innocent investors. This money has repeatedly been asked for by the victims of the crime yet the Liberal Democrats piously claim there is nothing wrong whilst indulging in partisan attacks on parties that have not taken stolen money.
Danny Alexander MP
Norman Baker MP
Alan Beith MP
Tom Brake MP
Annette Brooke MP
Jeremy Browne MP
Malcolm Bruce MP
Paul Burstow MP
Lorely Burt MP
Vincent Cable MP
Menzies Campbell MP
Alistair Carmichael MP
Michael Carr MP
Nick Clegg MP
Edward Davey MP
Chris Davies MP
Sue Doughty
Tim Farron MP
Lynne Featherstone MP
Don Foster MP
Andrew George MP
Sandra Gidley MP
Julia Goldsworthy MP
Mike Hancock MP
Evan Harris MP
Nick Harvey MP
David Heath MP
John Hemming MP
Martin Horwood MP
David Howarth MP
Simon Hughes MP
Chris Huhne MP
Mark Hunter MP
Paul Keetch MP
Susan Kramer MP
Norman Lamb MP
David Laws MP
John Leech MP
Michael Moore MP
Greg Mulholland MP
Mark Oaten MP
Lembit Öpik MP
John Pugh MP
Alan Reid MP
David Rendel
Willie Rennie MP
Dan Rogerson MP
Paul Rowen MP
Bob Russell MP
Steve Webb MP
Mark Williams MP
Roger Williams MP
Stephen Williams MP
Claire Kelley Harrogate and Knaresborough
Richard Younger Ross MP Newton Abbot
Madeline Kirk York Outer
Sal Brinton Watford
Sandy Walkington St Albans
Annette Brooke MP Mid Dorset and North Poole
Chris Huhne MP
Duncan Hames Chippenham
Stephen Gilbert St Austell and Newquay
Sue Doughty Guildford
Terrye Teverson Truro and Falmouth
Karen Gillard Cornwall South
Liz Leffman Meon Valley
Tessa Munt Wells
Sarah Carr Hereford and South Herefordshire
Duncan Hames Chippenham
Danny Alexander MP Norman Baker MP Alan Beith MP Tom Brake MP
Annette Brooke MP Jeremy Browne MP Malcolm Bruce MP Paul Burstow MP
Lorely Burt MP Vincent Cable MP Menzies Campbell MP Nick Clegg MP
Alistair Carmichael MP Michael Carr MP Nick Clegg MP Edward Davey MP Chris Davies MP Sue Doughty Tim Farron MP Lynne Featherstone MP Don Foster MP
Andrew George MP Sandra Gidley MP Julia Goldsworthy MP Mike Hancock MP Evan Harris MP Nick Harvey MP David Heath MP John Hemming MP
Martin Horwood MP David Howarth MP Simon Hughes MP Chris Huhne MP
Mark Hunter MP Paul Keetch MP Susan Kramer MP Norman Lamb MP
David Laws MP John Leech MP Michael Moore MP Greg Mulholland MP
Mark Oaten MP Lembit Öpik MP John Pugh MP Alan Reid MP
David Rendel Willie Rennie MP Dan Rogerson MP Paul Rowen MP
Bob Russell MP Steve Webb MP Mark Williams MP Roger Williams MP
Stephen Williams MP Claire Kelley Harrogate and Knaresborough
Richard Younger Ross MP Newton Abbot Madeline Kirk York Outer
Sal Brinton Watford Sandy Walkington St Albans Annette Brooke MP Mid Dorset and North Poole Sandra Gidley MP Chris Huhne MP Sue Doughty Guildford
Stephen Gilbert St Austell and Newquay Terrye Teverson Truro and Falmouth
Karen Gillard Cornwall South Liz Leffman Meon Valley Tessa Munt Wells
Sarah Carr Hereford and South Herefordshire Duncan Hames Chippenham
Vincent Cable MP Menzies Campbell MP Nick Clegg MP Chris Huhne MP
