By Rachel Charman
Southend’s two Labour party candidates have declared their interests ahead of the General Election in May.
In late March, the Government urged people standing for election this year to declare the details of other jobs, property assets and their tax status, in order to promote greater transparency in Westminster.
This voluntary declaration of interests was recommended in an independent review last year, following the scandal over MPs expenses and other illegitimate sources of income.
The Conservatives have criticised the recommendations, saying that they do not go far enough as union membership is excluded from the interests.
Rochford and Southend East candidate Kevin Bonavia (left) said:
“MPs of all parties have lost the trust of the public following the recent expenses scandal, not least here in Rochford and Southend.
“I think publishing personal interests is the very least that anyone standing for Parliament should do before expecting people to give them their vote and trust.
“In my own declaration of interests, I make it clear that I will not take up any separate employment as an MP, because I regard that role as a full-time job, or at least it should be if done properly.â€
Southend West candidate Tom Flynn said: “Transparency with voters is crucial if MPs are to be trusted to make decisions affecting their constituents’ lives.
“I hope that all other candidates seeking to represent Southend in Parliament will publish their personal interests, so that people will get a more informed view before casting their vote.
“I also agree that separate employment is inappropriate for an MP, not only because of the time involved, but also because of the conflict of interest that might arise when representing the concerns of constituents.â€
Mr Bonavia declared that he is a non-practicing solicitor, and that he will not resume his practice if elected. He also said that he is the Chair of Young Labour Lawyers, an unpaid position, and that he will step down from this position if elected.
Mr Bonavia holds an investment ISA of around £2,000, which he will exchange for a cash ISA if elected.
He is a member of both the Unite trade union, and the Co-operative Party, neither of which provide him with any financial or political support.
Finally, Mr Bonavia declared that he currently holds a shared interest in a house in Malta, which is currently being sold, and that if successful in the election, he will rent or buy a property in central Southend.
Mr Flynn (left) declared t
hat he works for a trade union, a post he plans to leave if elected in May.
He currently rents a property, and plans to buy or rent a property in the Southend West constituency if successful in the election.
Mr Flynn is a member of the GMB trade union and the Co-operative Party, which provide him with no financial or political support.
Southend West Conservative MP David Amess has been accused of failing to declare his interests on numerous occasions.
In a BBC investigation in 2009, it was revealed that Mr Amess failed to declare his registered annual payment of between £5,000 and £10,000 from the Caravan Club.
Mr Amess asked a series of questions about caravans, including a question to Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell about provision for caravan users during the 2012 Games.
Mr Amess claimed at the time that this was “an innocent mistake.â€
This year, a further BBC investigation revealed that 20 MPs had failed to properly record their interests in the Register of Members’ Interests.
Mr Amess took trips to the Maldives in 2007 and 2008, which were paid for in part by the goverment of the Maldives. According to the BBC, Mr Amess did not register the 2007 trip at all, and registered the 2008 trip one year late.
Mr Amess asked 15 Parliamentary questions relating to the economy of the Maldives between 2007 and 2009, at no point declaring any personal interests.
He also secured a Parliamentary debate on UK relations with the Maldives in 2007 without declaring an interest in the order of business, the weekly information bulletin or the summary agenda.
