GORDON HENDERSON MP

The current parliamentary expenses scandal was inevitable; I saw it coming over a year ago, indeed, what follows is part of a speech I made in March 2008:-

‘…people are increasingly fed up with politicians who say one thing and do another. They are fed up with politicians who have their snouts in the trough of public money. They are fed up with politicians who simply do not understand how real people, in the real world actually live.

‘Recently I was talking to an MP who was astonished when I told him that if I am elected I will commute to Westminster every day. “You can’t do that,” he told me, “it is hard work commuting. You really must get a flat in town. There is an allowance for a second home so you might as well use it.”’

‘My response was simply this; a large number of my future constituents commute to London every day; they cannot afford to own two houses and if the hard work of commuting is good enough for them, then it is good enough for me.’

‘Now there is talk of MPs being forced to reveal their expenses. Don’t hold your breath! MPs have a record of kicking such requests into the long grass! But, whatever other MPs do, if I am elected at the next General Election, I will publish regularly all the expenses that I have claimed and will provide receipts for all the expenditure…’

And of course I was right; MPs fought hard and long to keep their expenses secret. Now we know why!

Today David Cameron cracked down on the Tory MPs who have abused the system and in doing so showed what a great Prime Minister he will become.

Yesterday I was almost ashamed to admit I wanted to become a Member of Parliament, but following David’s press conference this afternoon, I am more determined than ever to get to Westminster and help him to restore the good reputation of Parliament.

Added 12.05.09