Bridget Prentice MP under investigation for use of Parliamentary Allowance

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

A formal complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been made about the use of parliamentary allowances by Bridget Prentice MP. John Lyon CB, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, has confirmed that the complaint is being investigated.

In recent years, MPs have been granted a "communication allowance" which is a publicly funded allowance granted to MP to permit specific types of communication between an MP and their constituents. There are very strict restrictions on how this allowance can be used.

The complaint made by Councillor Mark Morris, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Lewisham Council, relates to a number of issues, in particular that the parliamentary allowance has been used to communicate with people who are not even constituents of the MP. Mark Morris believes the MP has used parliamentary allowance to fund literature sent out to thousands of people who are not constituents of the MP.

Councillor Morris commented:

"Bridget Prentice seems to have a problem knowing who her constituents her! She was elected the MP for Lewisham East and she only represents the people who come under Lewisham East constituency based on the boundaries of the last election. She has no right to spend taxpayer money claiming to represent people that are not within her constituency.

"The communication allowance is publicly funded and there are very strict rules on how the allowance can be used. Putting out 'parliamentary reports' to people who are not even constituents is a serious misuse of taxpayers' money and I believe a blatant breach of the rules. Bridget Prentice is also confusing people by pretending to represent people living in Rushey Green ward.

"The communication allowance exists solely to permit very specific communication between and MP and their constituents. I believe she has blatantly broken the rules.

"I am delighted that John Lyon CB, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, is now investigating the issue. I hope he completes his investigation as soon as possible."