In response to the revelations that paperwork for MP’s expenses have been shredded (including that of Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner), members of opposition parties have been in touch to share their views.
Were Turner’s “actions were necessarily moral or ethical?”
Iain McKie, the 2015 UKIP Parliamentary Candidate for the Isle of Wight, told OnTheWight,
“Andrew Turner’s expense claims may well have been within the boundaries of the rules, although their shredding makes this more difficult to prove, but that does not mean that his actions were necessarily moral or ethical. It is precisely this type of behaviour that has led to UKIP pledging to introduce a recall of MPs if 20% of the electorate sign a petition calling for a by-election.
Time for a by-election?
Iain goes on to suggest that a by-election might be in order,
“Perhaps Mr Turner would be brave enough to call his own by-election and see whether or not the constituency of the Isle of Wight approve of his actions.”
Whilst Islanders struggle to keep a roof over their heads
Ed Gouge, Isle of Wight Labour Party Secretary, compared the struggle many Islanders have to keep a roof over their heads,
“It seems extraordinary that a complaint involving substantial sums of money claimed by Mr Turner cannot be investigated because records have been destroyed.
“I am sure people would also question that apparently Mr Turner claimed as his second home a substantial five bedroom property on the Island when he already had a one-bedroom flat in London. That may adhere to the letter of the rules at the time but is it in the spirit – particularly at a time when many people on the Island struggle to keep a single roof over their head?
Conservatives at war
Ed went on to suggest the incident reinforced the ongoing rift within the Island Conservatives.
He finished by saying,
“The UK has had its confidence in its politicians shaken by previous expenses revelations and I think Mr Turner owes the Island a clear and full account of this matter, especially given that he is opposed to the recall of MPs.
“I would also say that this whole issue has proved beyond all doubt that the local Tory party is at war. Evidently factions clearly have no confidence at all in Mr Turner and, I suspect, vice versa.”
