Exposed: Sleazy deals by Cameron 'sleazebuster'...

The man David Cameron appointed as his top 'sleaze-buster' in Europe has been caught funnelling more than £400,000 of public money into his own private company.

Following recent expenses scandals, the Tory Leader gave Giles Chichester the job of making sure none of his MEPs was caught breaking the rules on expenses.

Chichester devised a new Code of Conduct on expenses for the Tory team of MEPs he leads in the European Parliament.

But The Times reveals today that Chichester has channelled £445,000 for 'office services' to a company founded by his late father - round the world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester.

That's more than TEN times the £40,000 of public money that Tory MP Derek Conway was caught handing his son while he was a student.

And that scandal cost Con-way his seat.

A senior MP tells The Times: '...watch Cameron move to sort this out...'

We're watching.

Mr Sleazebuster has admitted breaching the rules over a five year period.

What does he have to say about his transgression...?

'whoops a daisy...OK, hands up, mea culpa...'

Same old Tories eh?

More Tory hypocrisy on MPs expenses...

Tory MP John Hayes has been accused of hypocrisy in the wake of the Derek Conway expenses scandal - by his own local paper!

A couple of weeks ago, the Honourable Member for South Holland and the Deepings tabled parliamentary questions demanding the salary details of top earners working on London's Olympic bid.

But when Mr Hayes was asked by his local paper to say how much he paid his own staff - at taxpayers expense - he told them it was none of their business.

Mr Hayes told the Lincolnshire Free Press that he would never reveal precise salaries because he would not expect bosses at other companies to reveal employees' pay.

He also claimed there were data protection issues to protect such information.

But he defended his right to know how much staff are paid at the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Mr Hayes told the Free Press that said his parliamentary question about salaries at the Olympic authority was “a separate issue” to his questions over how much public money he pays his six staff – including his wife who Susan.

A few days ago, I declared my support for John Hayes to employ his wife (despite his dirty tricks to mislead local voters over my own expenses).

This time he's on his own...!

Who voted for Amanda Platell...?

Last week I found myself in agreement with former Tory spindoctor Amanda Platell in her condemnation of Derek Conway, the MP who paid his son £40,000 of OUR MONEY for doing little if anything.

But today, it's back to business as normal:

Amanda was reviewing the papers on Andrew Marr's political show on BBC TV this morning. She was commenting on the controversy surrounding the Archbishop of Canterbury when she made a point of letting us know she's a devout Christian:

If I weren't here, I'd be in church.

Fair enough, perhaps. But then she added:

I know what a lot of my own constituents think...

Er, excuse me. What constituents might they be then? She's certainly not an elected MP. And as far as I'm aware, she's neither a county councillor, district councillor, or parish councillor.

Pompous or what...?

Why I support Tory MP employing his wife...despite his dirty tricks

In the wake of the Derek Conway scandal, South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes (Conservative) has revealed that he employs his wife Susan on the public payroll at his Spalding office.

I'll resist the temptation to make cheap points about Mr Hayes - despite his disgraceful attack on me last year when he personally delivered misleading leaflets down my street portraying me as a high claimer of expenses as an elected county councillor, when the reverse is the truth.

I've no idea how many hours Mrs Hayes works for her husband, what she does or how much taxpayers cash she is paid for doing whatever it is she does. Like many MPs of all political persuasions, Mr Hayes doesn't want to say and under present rules, he and his staff are entitled to keep that information secret.

But putting his dirty tricks aside for a moment, I defend his right to properly employ his wife and hope that the fall-out from the Derek Conway scandal will not result in a ban on the practice.

The blatant greed of Mr Hayes' less than honourable colleague in paying his son Freddie £40,000 for doing very little work may change all that. For if the Conway scandal has a silver cloud, it's highlighting the long overdue need for modernisation in what and how Mr Hayes and other MPs claim public funds.

For the sake of democracy itself and restoring trust in those we elect to represent us, it is vital that the expenses and staff salaries are made more transparent and accountable.

But as I've already pointed out, if we follow the American example and ban MPs partners from working for them, I believe we'd be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

If MPs are to provide a service to constituents, it has to be paid for. It's right of course that we should know whether our MP employs a relative, but just because he does, we shouldn't assume the worst.

Despite recent media storm - which has damaged the credibility of all politicians in the public eye - the fact is that many partners of MPs put in long hours of work well beyond the call of duty.

The issue is whether the taxpayer is getting value for money.

Or in the case of Derek Conway, whether we're all being fleeced for loadsa money to pay his family to do nowt.

In the case of Mr Hayes' dirty tricks, I'm sure he wouldn't dream of using my taxes - or yours - to deliver personal attacks on my integrity...

Private firm paid Conway for research, so why did he pay his family taxpayers cash...?

Shamed Tory MP Derek Conway took money from a private company for a researcher - yet paid his son more than £40,000 out of the public purse, according to The Observer.

Catching up on the weekend papers, I spotted this nugget on Conway-gate:

Further questions are likely to be asked about why Conway used public money to employ his sons, Freddie and Henry, and one of their friends as research assistants after it emerged a private company was paying for him to have a researcher. An entry made by Conway in the parliamentary register of members' interests states that 'financial support for a research assistant fees (were) met by Regent Square Estate Limited'.

The entry was made on 26 September 2005. Conway declined to return calls asking him to reveal how much money he received from the property company, the nature of the researcher's work or how long they were employed by him.

But records at Companies House show a company called Regent Square Estates Limited gave £20,000 to the Conservative Party in the year to 30 June 2006.

The Observer goes on to say that much of the money was actually used to fund David Davis's challenge to David Cameron for the leadership of the Conservative Party which orchestrated by Conway.

Unfortunately, these questions - and many more - were not addressed in Mr Conway's withering 'I've done nothing wrong' plea in the Mail on Sunday.

Conway says: 'I'm not a crook', as secretary reveals she was sacked to make way for his wife...

Quoting Richard 'Watergate' Nixon was probably not the best move by shamed MP Derek Conway. He also insists in the Mail on Sunday that he has done nothing wrong. And for good measure he says MPs should get paid eighty to a hundred grand. That's a massive pay rise of £40,000 a year!

Meanwhile, the News of the World speaks to the secretary who claims Conway sacked her so he could give his wife the job. She says the MP flew into a rage when she questioned him, saying I will crush you. Crush you.

The NoTW perhaps understandably asks its readers to comment on whether all MPs are freeloaders - which highlights the damage Conway has done to politics - and not just to his own party.

Shock. Horror: I agree with Amanda Platell...well, almost!

I've seldom agreed with a word uttered by ex-Conservative press officer Amanda Platell...But I have to admit that her offering on the Derek Conway scandal in today's Daily Mail is spot on...well, almost.

Here it is in full:

More than a decade ago, when I was managing a national newspaper, I discovered an employee was stealing thousands by paying family members for work they had never done.

He was sent to jail for two years - quite rightly. So I simply cannot see why Derek Conway isn't facing jail after diverting tens of thousands of taxpayers' money to his family. Full marks to David Cameron for swiftly sacking him, but what an outrage that Conway is continuing as an MP, on his £240,000 package, for another two years.

If he had even a sliver of integrity, he would stand down immediately. But, of course, that might jeopardise his gold-plated pension.

Is it any wonder politicians have never been held in such contempt?

I agree with almost every word - except Amanda's 'full marks to David Cameron for swiftly sacking' Derek Conway.

Amanda conveniently doesn't mention the fact that on the day we learned that Derek Conway had paid his son £40,000 in public money for doing virtually nothing, David Cameron responded by making it clear he would NOT remove the Tory whip from Conway.

Cameron flip-flopped the following day - only after the damaging media headlines. And only after multi-millionaire Tory donor Stuart Wheeler went on the BBC Today programme demanding that Cameron take tougher action against Conway.

I've just listened to the Saturday version of Radio Four's Any Questions. Former broadcaster John Tusa made an excellent point on the Conway scandal along these lines:

If he's wrongly paid over £80,000 in public funds to members of his family for doing nothing, how come he's been ordered to pay back just £13,000?

Why indeed...?

A mention in Best of the Blogs...

New Statesman were kind enough to highlight one of my posts on the Conway scandal in their "Best of the Politics Blogs" slot.

The weekly political magazine lifted a quote from this post.

While I was pleased to be mentioned in despatches, perhaps this offering yesterday was more considered, but posted after New Statesman's deadline...!

Shamed MP halved secretary's wages - while his son says 'Fuck Off I'm Rich'...

The Tory MP branded an embezzler has now been accused of HALVING his secretary’s wages to poverty levels – at the same time as handing his sons and their friend tens of thousands of pounds in public money in overtime and bonuses.

Derek Conway’s son Henry parties the nights away in champagne nightclubs – and is reported to have recently hosted a Fuck Off I’m Rich party.

In stark contast, the MP’s secretary is said to be a hard-working single mother who lives in a council house and who has been forced to claim state benefits to support her income.

The Daily Mail today says Conway halved her wages to just £7,875 last year, claiming that ‘money is tight’.

Weeks earlier, he handed his son a massive bonus paid for by the taxpayer – despite no evidence that he actually done ANY work. And three months after halving his secretary's wages, he gave an £11,000 a year assistant's job to a close friend of his hoo-ray son Henry.

The Mail also reveals that Hoo-ray Henry has thanked his friends for their support as this week’s scandal unfolded – including Prince William’s girl-friend Kate Middleton.

Derek Conway has treated the House of Commons like a gravy train. He has given new meaning to the term top-up fees. Like millions of others, I struggled financially to get my two daughters through University. It was hard work, but today they are both qualified teachers and both paying back their student loans.

Conway has been caught with his snout welded to the trough in a way that puts Alan B'stard in the shade.

He's demonstrated his total lack of decent values. And he's shown exactly what he thinks of the ordinary hard-working folk who thought they could trust him to be their voice in Parliament - a so-called honourable member.

There's no surprise his son says: "Fuck Off, I'm Rich". Like father, like son.

Millions of people of all parties and none are rightly disgusted, shocked and angered by Conway's disgraceful behaviour - and no amount of claims that Conway is suffering a "witch-hunt" by Tory MPs like his friend Roger Gale will convince anyone.

Every penny of public money the MP has claimed since he was first elected a quarter of a century ago should now be fully scrutinised. And every penny he was not entitled to must be paid back. With interest.

He seems to have shown no compassion even for his hard-working secretary. He deserved none in return.

For example, I believe we now have a right to know how Conway funded the fees (currently £8,000 a term) to put two sons through Harrow public school.

From reports of how they've turned out, sending them to Harrow appears to have produced a pair of wasters.

More Tory sleaze and hypocrisy as Iain Dale defends the not so 'honourable' gentleman...

Another day, another shock revelation in the unfolding scandal of disgraced Tory MP Derek Conway...Thursday's Daily Mail claims it has uncovered secret documents which show that a close friend of one of Mr Conway's sons was also on the MP's payroll - as well as both his sons and his wife.

A couple of days ago when the story first broke, Tory blogger Iain Dale declined to comment on the plight of his friend Derek Conway.

Fair enough. But today, on news that the 'honourable gentleman' is to step down at the next General Election (before he can be deselected), Iain Dale has lambasted 'the baying mob' who attacked Derek Conway.

Iain says:

'Whatever Derek did or did not do he did not deserve some of the comments that have been thrown his way...'

Poppycock.

Let's be clear what Mr Conway did: he wrongly dipped into the public purse to pay his son more than £40,000 in taxpayer's cash.

The new allegations which have emerged regarding thousands of pounds in taxpayers cash handed to his other son, payments to his wife and now cash for a close friend of one of his sons, all warrant further investigation.

(By the way, I totally condemn the Mail's disgraceful fixation on the alleged sexual orientation of any of those involved. It's totally irrelevant to the core issue of misuse of public funds).

For Iain Dale to portray Derek Conway as a victim of a baying mob demonstrates that he is allowing his judgement to be seriously clouded by his friendship.

There's more than a touch of hypocrisy in Iain Dale's whinge about 'the baying mob'.

Only a few days ago, Iain was quite happy to personally lead 'the baying mob' attacking Peter Hain for late reporting of private donations to fund an internal Labour Party election.

Conway crisis gets deeper and deeper...

More sensational revelations about the public costs of Tory MP Derek Conway and his family from today's Daily Mail, including this helpful illustration...

Tory Leader David Cameron made it clear on Monday that Derek Conway would not be losing the Conservative whip just because he had been caught 'diverting' more than £40,000 of public cash.

Yesterday morning, Tory MP Roger Gale toured the TV and radio studios, stupidly claiming that Derek Conway was the victim of a witch-hunt.

But by lunchtime yesterday, David Cameron was forced to don his familiar flip-flops and do what he said he wouldn't do the night before...

Two things made Cameron's position untenable:

First, the media reaction against the not-so-honourable gentleman - including the Daily Mail describing Mr Conway's behaviour as theft.

Second, the BBC R4 Today programme by multi-millionaire Tory donor Stuart Wheeler that Derek Conway be sacked.

So Cameron was moved by money and media headlines...

Prime Minister's Questions should be even more interesting than usual - today at noon...

Tory MP who handed his son £40k taxpayers cash faces new enquiry over payments to another son

The shamed Tory MP exposed yesterday for handing his student son more than £40,000 from public funds faces fresh charges that he also paid £32,000 in taxpayers cash to another son.

Conservative Leader David Cameron last night refused to withdraw the whip from Derek Conway MP, after his wrists were slapped by an official House of Commons enquiry for 'diverting' public funds to his son Freddie.

No surprise there, as only last week Mr Cameron said it was OK for parents to lie to get your children into the school of your choice.

But, if David Cameron thought the Derek Conway affair couldn't get any worse, it just did...

The Daily Mail splashes on allegations that Mr Conway faces a second sleaze enquiry over claims that £32,000 in parliamentary allowances was also paid to his other son Henry.

As I posted HERE yesterday, Mr Conway was rewarded with a ten-day holiday from the Commons after an official enquiry found he made payments to his son Freddie which were 'a serious diversion of public funds.'

If payments to his second son are proved to be a further 'diversion', I wonder if he'll have to extend his holiday by another ten days...?

Don't you just love the quaint House of Commons language to describe what an MP's misbehaviour...? Have you ever heard getting caught with a hand in the cash til as 'diverting public funds'.

I can think of a much simpler word for it.

Derek Conway is a senior Tory MP, first elected to Parliament 25 years ago. He was heavily touted as the next Mr Speaker - until yesterday's shameful revelations.

Can someone please explain why an MP who gets caught red-handed siphoning thousands of pounds of OUR money from the public purse is given ten days off work.

I can certainly think of more appropriate 'punishments'.

Mr Conway's treatment by the Standards and Privileges Committee appears to contrast starkly with Peter Hain's dilemma. Only last week, you will recall, Mr Hain lost his job and now faces a police enquiry for late reporting of private donations for an internal Labour Party election.

There was never a hint that Mr Hain had 'diverted' public funds as Mr Conway has done.

Today's Mail story doesn't say how Mr Conway funded Henry and Freddie through Harrow public school.

But isn't it time some searching questions were asked about how he's been spending our money for 25 years?

A tale of two MPs: one loses his job and faces a police investigation, the other gets a holiday...

A few days ago, a senior Labour MP apologised for late reporting of thousands of pounds in private donations which he received to fund his bid to win an internal Labour Party election. There was no suggestion of fraud or that the money was used illegally or of misuse of public funds.

Peter Hain blamed an administrative error for reporting the donations later than he should have done.

The Electoral Commission decided to call in the police and Peter Hain responded by immediately resigning as a cabinet minister…

Today, a senior Conservative MP apologised for misusing thousands of pounds of taxpayers money.

The House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said Derek Conway was wrong to put his son on the public payroll when he had little or no contact with his father’s office either at Parliament or in his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency.

The Committee was astonished that young Freddie Conway seemed to have been all but invisible during the period of his employment.

That’s because he was hundreds of miles away studying for his degree at Newcastle University.

The Tory MP generously used public funds to pay his lad way over the going rate, as well as pension payments and lavish bonuses.

Mr Conway, whose previous fame seems to be as John Major's vote fixer in the Commons, is likely to face a ten-day suspension from Parliament.

So, one MP declares private donations late, loses his job and faces a criminal investigation.

The other gets caught misusing public money and gets sent on a 10-day holiday from work.

Is this justice, or am I missing something…?

There's one more very stark difference in these two cases:

Tory Leader David Cameron was first in the queue to put pressure on Peter Hain to resign.

I have yet to hear Mr Cameron announce that Derek Conway will be barred from standing as a Conservative candidate at the next general election...

UPDATE: Spot the difference: Leading Tory blogger Iain Dale was all over the Peter Hain story last week. He has yet to utter the words Derek Conway...! Same old Tories.