Rochford and Southend East Labour candidate pledges to use less expenditure if elected

 The Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate, Kevin Bonavia, has published a series of pledges to constituents on expenses.

 Mr Bonavia claims that he will make good on these promises if he is elected as MP for the area in the next General Election.

On his blog, Mr Bonavia writes that constituents have a right to be angry about the current perceived misuse of MP expenses and should challenge their MPs to be transparent.

 He also said:

 “For myself, I have no record of expense claims, but it is right that voters know where I stand.

 “So, at the next election I will make the following 5 pledges to the people of Rochford and Southend:

 “I will live in Southend in a home that I buy or rent out of my own money.

 “I will only rent overnight accommodation in London for the purpose of being able to work late in Parliament; I will not claim for a second mortgage. 

 “I will not claim any living expenses, except rent, council tax and utility bills for London overnight accommodation and travel to/from Southend. I will not claim for food or furnishings in either Southend or London.

 “I will publish details of all expense claims, however small, on my website at least once a month.

 “I will not have a second job, but will be a full-time MP.

 “I will honour these pledges regardless of what I am allowed to claim.  MPs should be grown up enough to realise that they can’t hide behind the system.”

 Meanwhile, current Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge has published on his website the details of the expenses he has claimed.

 In particular, Mr Duddridge has explained in detail his reasons for keeping a second home in London and claiming for it on his expenses.

 He writes:

 “A number of constituents have asked me why I have a second home in London considering that the commute from Thorpe Bay to Westminster is just under two hours.

 “I appreciate that a number of constituents do not find this appropriate, and that over 20,000 people commute from Southend everyday, many of whom do not work a traditional working day.

 “Members of Parliaments’ working hours are unfortunately not very commuter friendly, as my work demands very early starts and I often finish work at midnight, or later.

 “To use last week as an example the House sat until 10.30pm on Monday, until 2am on Tuesday and on Wednesday I was in House of Commons until 10pm.

 “In all candour this example is an exceptional week, however I rarely expect to leave much before midnight on Mondays or Tuesdays.

 “That Thursday I had appointments in both London and Southend and so returned from London earlier to attend these meetings.

 “Fridays are reserved for a full day of constituency engagements, as are most weekends.

 “Most mornings when I have stayed in London overnight I get into the office around 7.30am in order to prepare for the day and clear my email.

 “Overnight I review a box of constituency casework and any mail that I have not had the chance to deal with during the day.”