Dan Byles Criticises Mike O'Brien MP For Using Taxpayers' Money For Political Self Promotion

Former soldier Dan Byles, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North Warwickshire & Bedworth, this week criticised Labour Member of Parliament Mike O'Brien for distributing a glossy political leaflet just months ahead of the General Election - paid for by the taxpayer.

All MPs have access to an annual £10,400 'Communications Allowance', which Mr O'Brien has used to print a full colour leaflet full of photographs of himself 'campaigning' around the constituency.

But the Communication Allowance has proved highly controversial in recent years, with a number of MPs hauled before the Parliamentary Standards Committee for misusing the fund for political purposes.

Following the MPs Expenses Scandal, an independent report by Sir Christopher Kelly recommended that the allowance be scrapped, saying that there was: "...much evidence of it being used for self-promotion."

Dan Byles said this week:

"Following the appalling expenses scandal last year, which rightly sickened local people including myself, it is vitally important that MPs are seen to use taxpayers money wisely.

"The Kelly Report, which was set up and supported by all Parties to try to clean up politcs and restore trust, specifically recommended that this Communicatons Allowance be scrapped. Sir Christopher Kelly said that it was being used by MPs for 'self promotion', and that that was wrong.

"I thought that his recommendations had been welcomed by all Parties, so I was shocked and disappointed to see that our local Labour MP, Mike O'Brien, is doing exactly that. He is distributing a leaflet that can only be described a 'self promotion' - and he is using the controversial Communications Allowance to pay for it . This is taxpayers money.

"We are only months from a General Election. There can be no doubt that Mr O'Brien is using this taxpayer funded allowance to boost his own public self image ahead of the General Election.

"I regularly use leaflets to stay in touch with local people, but they are all paid for by the Conservative Party from money raised for political campaigning. None of it comes from the taxpayer.

"Mr O'Brien should repay the full cost of this leaflet immediately."