As a parliamentary candidate I am disgusted with the current furore over MPs’ expenses. I think the fact that politicians of all parties have been claiming for everyday items that you or I have to pay for from our wages shows how distant the political class has become from the ordinary working man or woman. The fallout will extend as we begin to hear about the second jobs some politicians have – notably of the shadow cabinet.
The current expenses situation does not help a new generation of politicians like me who are standing for office. Only yesterday someone in Don Avenue in my constituency told me she would not be voting for anyone anymore because of expense claims. As a candidate this is very disheartening. I get little financial support from the party. I am not wealthy, retired or own my own business, so I have to work. I even contribute financially to my campaign with my own funds that I get from employment.
I am not like my Conservative opponent who owns his own farm and is likely receiving money from Lord Ashcroft. Nor am I like my Lib Dem opponent in being the Treasurer of my party for Yorkshire and Humberside and ensuring I have funds. It is in fact costing me personally to be a candidate and I am happy to do this as being a candidate is an honour, just as elected office is.
However the public believes that I have a second home and am making these wild expense claims. Nothing could be further from the truth. I can just afford the rent on my only home, let alone a second. As a councillor I have already gone on the beat with local police and worked as a teaching assistant – I enjoy this very public work. I have said for some time that if I am elected as an MP I will donate a week’s wages to charities that work in my constituency and I will also carry out five days of non-political work in my constituency. I wish more established politicians would lead by such an example.