Councilbust

 The Southend West Conservative MP has provoked anger from rival parties again this week.

 This time, it has been reported by the BBC that Mr Amess failed to declare his interest during a series of written questions to ministers.

 In May 2009, CouncilBust.com reported that Mr Amess had written to Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister, asking if the government had made provisions for caravan users attending the 2012 Games.

 According to a BBC investigation, Mr Amess may have failed, in this and five other written questions about caravans, to declare his personal interest; he receives a registered annual payment of between £5,000 and 10,000 from the Caravan Club.

 In “Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members”, a guide for MPs, failing to declare interest is “a very serious breach of the rules.”

 When speaking to the BBC, which broke the story, Mr Amess at first claimed that his not declaring interest was an “innocent mistake.” He went on to say:

 ”Whether or not my office forgot to tick the box, the questions were completely in order anyway. I’ve spoken to register of interests and the Caravan Club.

 ”My question was trying to divert a potentially embarrassing PR disaster if people turned up in caravans in large numbers for the Olympics with no provision.

 Mr Amess later told the Echo: “I am outraged by the way a lie has been told, by the BBC, regarding my writing to ministers. I have been misrepresented.”

The new accusation has provided another platform for Mr Amess’ rivals to promote their own candidacy. Labour candidate for Southend West Tom Flynn told CouncilBust.com:

“David Amess has proven yet again that he is more interested in filling his pockets than representing the people of Southend.

“Like a number of MPs he uses the excuse that his behaviour was within the rules but it’s clear that the spirit of the rules has been breached.

“A public debate is now more essential than ever an I repeat my call for him to attend a public meeting which he snubbed earlier this week.”

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Southend West Peter Welch said:

“This seems just like MPs’ expenses again.

 “The rules have been broken, but we are told we shouldn’t worry because the rules don’t matter. Personally I believe this does matter.

 ”Parliamentary Questions can be a good way of holding the government to account. But they can be misused too, and they are not free.

 “Each question costs the taxpayer money – around one hundred and fifty pounds each according to the House of Commons. 

 ”The questions Mr Amess have asked over the last year have cost us nearly one hundred and fifty thousand pounds in total.

 “I wish we could be sure that we are getting good value for money from them.

 ”The revelation that some of these have been asked in breach of the rules makes this all the more worrying.”

 Mr Amess has asked 927 questions so far this year, which is well above average for MPs. His questions, according to Hansard, focus mainly on abortion, the Middle Eastern conflict, and the Police.