News
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thousands of Luton residents have recently received a letter from David Cameron and a survey relating to MP’s conduct and expenses, together with a personal pledge from me outlining my own initial ‘contract’ with the electorate. The survey results will be released in a few weeks and I will be amending my pledge in the light of feedback from local residents. We have already received more than 200 responses.
The contract in spirit and word bears some resemblance to the pledge made recently by a newly declared Independent candidate which were extensively covered in the Luton News this week - where they were erroneously presented as being somehow unique and innovative.
They are not. These kinds of conduct contracts were first introduced by Conservative candidate, Chloe Smith, in her successful election campaign in Norwich North and such pledges are being made by Tory candidates up and down the country.
It is good that one of the Independent candidates is following in our footsteps, but as I wrote my own pledge and have been communicating it to the electorate for some time now, there is no need for me to sign up to a version belatedy developed by an opponent.
Unfortunately, what is missing from the campaigns of the independent candidates is any clear policy stance, and indeed any chance of being in a position to implement any policies at all - should they be elected. Having an isolated MP without influence in the corridors of power is not in the best interests of Luton.
I do not doubt the good intentions of the ever increasing number of candidates for Luton South, but the reality is that at the next election the only way to guarantee change is to vote Conservative and put David Cameron in Downing Street. A vote for any other party or candidate will let Gordon Brown off the hook and risks giving us five more years of Labour.
For my pledge, see below:
Nigel Huddleston’s Pledge to the Electorate of Luton (extract from recent direct mailshot):
Over the last few weeks lots of people have told me that they’re not going to vote at the next election because “you politicians are all the same”.
I can understand people feeling like that – MPs from all parties have abused the trust we placed in them. I too am furious about the excessive and possibly illegal claims made by some of the people we send to Parliament.
But actually all politicians aren’t the same. Some politicians have behaved honourably, and I’ve been thinking about what I can do to convince you that I will be one of the good guys – someone you can trust.
I am standing for Parliament because of what I can contribute, not what I can get out of it. As a local resident and father of two young children, I want to make Luton a better place to live and work.
I will not play the system. I will stick to the strict rules set out below, and I want you to treat this as a contract between us.
I, Nigel Huddleston, the Conservative Candidate for Luton South, promise to:
- Only claim expenses for what’s necessary for me to do the job
- Publish online all my personal expenses
- Never claim for furniture, household goods or food shopping
- Publish information about who I am employing with my staffing allowance and what they do
- Commute from my local home into London by train, only staying overnight in London when absolutely necessary
- Pay my own taxes (e.g. stamp duty) – rather than charge them to other taxpayers
- Hold fortnightly surgeries and regular public meetings at which people can question me about my performance, my voting record and my expenses
I hope these commitments convince you that you can place your trust in me.
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