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Expenses system 'distorting democracy' - Conservatives

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Wednesday, 26 November, 2014
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The expenses system at Stormont must be changed to prevent MLAs “using personal claims to fill the coffers of political parties’, according to Conservative Party spokesman, Mark Brotherston.

“Once again a BBC documentary has asked searching questions about Stormont expenses and once again the parties have reacted with hostility rather than contrition”, Mark commented.  “An independent probe is needed to establish whether there has been wrongdoing and any MLA who has broken the rules should be required to pay back in full anything they have taken dishonestly from taxpayers.  Whether there has been wrongdoing or not it’s clear that the parties at Stormont are habitually stretching the expenses system to its limits, either to fill their coffers or to acquire assets.”

“MLAs are granted allowances in order to benefit their constituents, not to build up their party political machine or reinforce their dominance at elections.  The democratic process is being distorted and competition is being undermined by the unscrupulous use of expenses by Stormont parties.  The system needs to be overhauled to ensure taxpayers get value for money.  There hasn’t been an ounce of shame from any of the parties with questions to answer.  They simply can’t be trusted to use the existing expenses system responsibly.”

 

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