Ann Keen is detrimental to health of our democracy - Dakers

1.20.05pm GMT Tue 11th Jan 2005

Andrew Dakers has this week responded to Labour party members' concerns about Ann Keen (a.k.a. Mrs Expenses)

In his response to the Autumn 2004 issue of Viewpoints - a newsletter produced by Hounslow Labour Party members - Andrew Dakers, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth, has suggested Ann Keen's (a.k.a. Mrs Expenses) "clever" use of the expense rules is detrimental to the health of democracy in the UK.

Andrew Dakers said:

"In a period of extremely low voter turnout, I believe [taking such a large expense allowance] simply fuels the public's cynicism towards the political process in the UK and is extremely detrimental to the health of our democracy."

"The constituents I speak to on the doorstep, want local politicians and an MP to focus on serving the interests and needs of the community, not themselves. Fortunately we do have some councillors - of all party persuasions - who work phenomenally hard for the local community, and their commitment must not be forgotten."

"Unlike Ann Keen, who only spoke in Parliament three times last year, coming 594th out of 659 MPs, I would be an active constituency MP and speak up for my constituents in Parliament."

"I have campaigned against the war in Iraq and against tuition fees, which we successfully scrapped in partnership with Labour in Scotland. I have also campaigned for free care for the elderly and an end to the unfair Council Tax; and in November last year I set out a 10 point challenge to Ann to get the government to take our environment more seriously. These are all reasons why we are witnessing increasing numbers of both Labour and Tory party members joining the Liberal Democrats."