 MP for Rossendale and Darwen Janet Anderson has claimed £750 for a download of the Electoral Register – which is free for all MPs.
The claim was made within the period 1st May-30th May 2007 – which saw Ms Anderson ask for £2337.98 back in expenses.
The £750 claim was the largest one for that month, despite the fact that MPs, registered political parties and the police, are all among the groups which can receive a copy for free from the Electoral Office.
Attached with the claim is a copy of the invoice addressed to the Rossendale and Darwen Labour Party, dated May 28th 2007.
Jake Berry, parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives in Rossendale and Darwen, said : "I am quite astonished to find that Janet Anderson has demanded £750 back in expenses for something that she can get for free.
"This claim is confusing and I am not sure why she did not know that all MPs can get a copy of the Electoral Register for free. The £750 paid to the local constituency Labour Party made up the largest proportion of her claim and could have been avoided."
Mr Berry continued: "It just goes to show that it is claims like this that contribute to the despair of people about MPs – the residents of Rossendale and Darwen have had enough of her high claims."
22nd June 2009 | 
