Shortchanged by Sharma again (Ealing Liberal Democrats)

Ealing Liberal Democrats <info@ealinglibdems.org.uk>

Shortchanged by Sharma again

February 14, 2010 10:26 AM

Nigel Bakhai with John Leech MP and local residents highlighting Cllr Sharma's poor attendence record in the Ealing Southall by-election

Ealing Lib Dems have uncovered Labour MP Virendra Sharma picked up his councillor's allowance of almost £9,500 for attending just 7 meetings in the 2008-9 council year.

Ealing Southall Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Nigel Bakhai, who raised Mr. Sharma's poor attendance record as an issue during the 2007 by-election, said: "Once again, residents have had a raw deal from Mr Sharma. Mr Sharma may claim that his councillor's allowance goes towards other things like dealing with casework, but he is already paid for this as an MP so in my mind his only job as a councillor is to attend council meetings. That is why I doubt many of his constituents would believe he is providing value for money at just over £1,300 per meeting."

The Lib Dems have also discovered Labour MP Sharma's expenses showed that he claimed almost £6,000 from taxpayers for printing a leaflet delivered across the Ealing Southall constituency in 2007/8. The MPs Communications Allowance used by Mr Sharma to claim the money from taxpayers has now ended following the recent expenses scandal.