Bridget Prentice breaks House of Commons rules

1.12.06pm GMT Mon 8th Dec 2008

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has concluded that Bridget Prentice MP has broken the rules of the House of Commons over the use of the taxpayer funded 'communication allowance'. Following the complaint, the MP for Lewisham East has apologised for her behaviour and agreed to refund the cost of delivering literature funded by the communication allowance to non-constituents.

Back in July Councillor Mark Morris, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, made a formal complaint to John Lyon CB, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, over the use of the MP's communication allowance.

Councillor Morris said:

"I personally disagree with MPs even having a communication allowance. At a time of financial crisis I really don't think it is a priority for taxpayer's money to be spent on publicising the work of MPs.

"However, irrespective of my opinions about the communication allowance it is closely regulated and MPs know that they need to meet basic rules in how they operate this allowance. Clearly Bridget Prentice has broken the rules. An MP and a Government Minister should know better.

"The communication allowance is a taxpayer funded allowance to allow MPs to give factual information about their activities to their constituents. It is not a campaign fund to help MPs get re-elected."