3. Extract
from article in the Birmingham Post, 25 May 2009
Calls grow for Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride to
resign
Pressure is mounting on Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride
to resign after it was revealed that her brother was allowed to
live rent-free at her taxpayer-funded home in Worcestershire.
The Conservative Member and her husband have already
been criticised for both claiming for different second homes—despite
sharing properties.
But calls for her to follow Andrew MacKay out of
office grew when it was claimed that her 59-year-old brother,
Ian Kirkbride, had been listed on the electoral register as living
at their home since 2004. He had also registered a business at
the property's address.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said that
Ms Kirkbride had questions to answer but said her case was different
to that of her husband.
"Julie does live in London, that's where
her son goes to school and she does have a genuine constituency
home in Worcestershire," he said.
"She will have to
answer those questions but I do think the two cases are quite
different."
Party sources said Ms Kirkbride did not appear to
have broken any rules, although her claims would be scrutinised
internally, in common with those of all Conservative MPs.
Ms Kirkbride claimed that her brother had stayed
at her home to provide childcare and said she could not cope without
his help. He has been living at the couple's apartment ... near
Bromsgrove, and was registered on the electoral roll as far back
as 2004.
Under House of Commons rules, only an MP's spouses
and children are supposed to share the second home.
Last June, Ms Kirkbride wrote to Parliament's Fees
Office telling them she had been forced to extend the apartment
"accommodating the
needs of our growing family."
Bracknell MP Mr MacKay said on Saturday that he would
leave Parliament at the next general election. He claimed a second
homes allowance on the couple's London flat, which Ms Kirkbride
declared as her main residence so that she could claim expenses
on their Bromsgrove residence. This meant the taxpayer was effectively
subsidising both of their homes.
...
Ms Kirkbride released a statement which said her
brother stayed at both homes but insisted that she had nothing
to apologise for. "I
claim no expenses for my brother, neither do I pay him or claim
for his help. He also acts as a volunteer in helping me with my
office work and administration,"
said the statement.
"Up and down the country, families have relatives
stay and get them to help with things like child care. There is
no cost to the taxpayer in the arrangement and nothing for me
to apologise for. To describe this as my brother living rent-free
is a total distortion."
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