What our South Lincs MPs claimed...

Links to full parliamentary expenses claims for South Lincs MPs for the past five years now at the Spalding Guardian website.

Haven't had a chance to have a look yet at the claims by John Hayes, Quentin Davies and Mark Simmonds, but I'm sure there's some interesting reading - and lots of tittle-tattle.

Now Quentin's in the frame over expenses...

Stamford MP Quentin Davies has become the second Lincolnshire MP facing questions over his parliamentary expenses after apparently claiming more than £10,000 for window repairs at his "second home", an 18th Century Manor House here in Lincolnshire.

It follows revelations about Douglas Hogg's claims for moat-cleaning at public expense at his "second home" - a 13th Century country pile also in Lincolnshire.

Earlier this week, on the day there were further revelations about claims by his wife, "Lady" Hogg, the Sleaford MP announced he will step down at the next General Election.

Both Mr Hogg and Mr Davies apparently claimed that their "first home" was a London flat...

New RAF jobs boost for South Lincs economy...

Stamford MP Quentin Davies has announced 165 new jobs at RAF Coningsby to support the deployment of the Typhoon Euro-fighter at the South Lincs.

BBC video on the Typhoons flying into Coningsby and what it means for the Lincolnshire economy HERE.

Two Lincs MPs named in Government reshuffle...

More congrats are in order...this time to two Lincs MPs who have taken up new posts in the Labour Government.

Quentin Davies (Stamford and Grantham) has joined the Government as a Defence Minister.Mr Davies has been appointed by Gordon Brown to be Minister for Defence Equipment and Support. He will be part of a department which has a budget of £13 billion.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has appointed Gillian Merron (Lincoln) to be a Minister in the Foreign Office.

BREAKING NEWS: MP calls for resignation of Police Authority...

MP Quentin Davies has called for the resignation of Lincolnshire Police Authority after they were 'capped' for trying to impose the highest council tax precept in the country.

Last week, the Government stepped in and halted the massive 78.9% increase, cutting it to 26% - and giving every ratepayer in Lincolnshire a refund of some £70.

Mr Davies is angry at what he calls the Authority's

complete irresponsibility in demanding such an absurd level of increase.

He adds:

They are directly responsible for the expense of rebilling the public...they seem to me to have no regard at all for the interests of Lincolnshire Council Tax payers and they have seriously undermined their own credibility by such extreme demands...

Strong stuff.

For the record, as a member of the Police Authority and a Lincolnshire ratepayer, I take no pleasure in the current position.

For the record, and the avoidance of doubt, I spoke and loudly and clearly AGAINST such a massive increase and was one of those who voted against it in February, as posted at the time HERE.

Tories 'unable to work happily together'...

Splits in Tory ranks in Stamford are coming to a head, with the biggest branch in the town under threat of closure.

Seems they've completely lost the plot since their MP Quentin Davies defected to Labour last summer.

Tories select candidate following Quentin's defection to Labour...

Conservative Home is reporting that Nick Boles has been selected as Tory candidate for Stamford and Grantham following the defection of Quentin Davies to Labour.

UPDATE: More about Mr Boles at the Grantham Journal who posted the news late last night, following the selection meeting. Nothing yet on the Stamford Mercury site.