Liberal Democrats call for answers over "excessive" expenses

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Amy Rodger is today demanding an explanation from the Labour members of East Lothian council over expense claims she has characterized as "excessive to the point of being unjustifiable."

Yesterday, East Lothian Council released councillor expenses for the period April 2007 to April 2008 and the figures show that there is staggering variation in what each party claimed. In the last year, Labour councillors claimed a total of £13,778.95 in expenses, which excludes councillors annual salary. This is just slightly less than both the Liberal Democrats and SNP put together who billed £14,358.21.

Labour Council group leader Willie Innes claimed for £4110.95 while Norman Hampshire, councillor for Dunbar and East Linton, claimed £4017.46, both almost double the next highest claim. Mr. Hampshire's claim included £1415.41 in subsistence allowance, again double the next highest claim.

Amy Rodger commented, "The Labour party took East Lothian for granted while they were in power, now they seem intent on taking us for a ride."

She continued, "Mr. Innes and Mr. Hampshire have some serious questions to answer. The council's own code of conduct states that expenses must be properly and necessarily incurred by members, and not used as an add on to salaries. With the new administration striving to cut costs so that vital local services can be improved and expanded these figures show that, far from providing value for money, the Labour group are claiming expenses that are excessive to the point of being unjustifiable."