I have just read the response of Labour MP Ian Cawsey on the issue of his absolutely whopping expense claims. Mr Cawsey seems to think that making a claim for £300 every month for food is not excessive!! So despite earning over £60k per year Mr Cawsey thinks taxpayers should pay £300 towards his food as-well!!!

The biggest insult however comes in what he says about his claims that will be released in October. He says that those will show that he has made no claim under the second homes allowance in the past year! So despite claiming over £74k in this expense since 2004, we are now expected to be grateful that he has made no claim in the year before a general election!! Does he really think the electorate are that stupid?

The claims released show that he billed taxpayers for -

• £15,000 in food over a three and a half year period. Included in this are attempts to overclaim during 2005-06 and 2006-07.
• Cleaning totaling over £2000 over the same period.
• A caravan!
• Sponsoring the match between Brigg Town and Goole in his own name. He should be sponsoring it as the MP but he shouldn't use to taxpayers money to effectively advertise himself.
• Nearly £10,000 in one year to promote himself using taxpayers money via the controversial Communications Allowance.
• £40 for Christmas Cards.
• Renting and watering a hanging basket.

Now, I am sure that he would claim all of these are within the rules but you have to ask about the judgment of someone who earns over £60,000 per year expecting the taxpayer to pick up a bill of over £300 for food every month.

I am also sure that sponsoring the football match and the hanging basket were very worthy projects, but he should have paid them out of his own pocket, especially when it is his name getting promoted.