43. Letter to the Commissioner from
Ms Nadine Dorries MP, 16 May 2010
In 2008 my daughter returned to school on September
and then left for a school politics trip away.
In September, Parliament is in recess, I do not work
any late nights and so I travel from home to school and back again.
I can assure you that if there were anything Machiavellian
regarding my statements, I would be reading each letter to you
very carefully before I write another. The fact is that I cannot
be absolutely 100% accurate about any night, only my pattern of
nights.
We may have spent the odd night in September [in
the constituency] over the last few years, however, I raise that
as a possibility because I cannot be specific.
We spend weekends, usually from Thursday night and
Parliamentary recess at home and sleep in the constituency house
when Parliament sits. Sometimes, [my youngest daughter] isn't
with me at all when I am working and staying in the constituency.
I usually arrive back on a Monday and Tuesday after
midnight and leave very early the following morning.
You have asked me for the addresses of neighbours
in [the second Gloucestershire address] to write to. As you are
aware, I moved into [that address] well after the submission of
this complaint. However, my main neighbour is a 15th century churchyard.
[Reference to the extent of her neighbours' use of their properties.]
...
Whereas I am aware my neighbours in the constituency
have written to you, I keep my work very separate from my home
life and would not be comfortable with asking neighbours from
the Cotswolds to write, even if there were any. The neighbour
who moved out of [an empty property] would be happy to write,
she is also an employee and is aware of what has been happening
and so I can leave that with you.
The accommodation in the constituency is temporary
until I take possession of a flat in order to comply with the
new IPSA guidelines. When the appointment of IPSA was announced,
I asked the landlord for a less expensive property than the mid
terrace I rented [at the first constituency address]. The farmhouse
is £2,000 less pa than [the first constituency address] for
a number of reasons, not least because it is in the middle of
a working woodcutting yard. A fire door has been fitted to block
of part of the internal accommodation to cut down on the heating
cost. My youngest daughter and I use two bedrooms. A flat is available
in November and I am discussing the transitional arrangement with
IPSA. My home in [Gloucestershire] is built on a hill and is on
three levels. The lower ground floor room I use as a sewing room
but could be a bedroom. A sitting room, butler's pantry, dining
kitchen, utility area, a room which is converted into a dressing
room, a large bedroom, main bathroom and a mezzanine floor which
is [my youngest daughter's] room/area. We have terraced garden
with stunning views over the Cotswold hills ...
[Material redacted to protect the privacy of third
parties.]
I have emphasised a number of times the pattern of
how I divide my time between home and the constituency. I have
tried to be as honest as possible which has sometimes tied me
in knots as I have also attempted to answer specific questions,
which is almost impossible.
16 May 2010
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