MP cleared of public funds misuse
Small business minister and Edinburgh South MP Nigel Griffiths has been cleared by the House of Commons standards commissioner of misusing taxpayers money by using his constituency office for political purposes.
Standards commissioner Elizabeth Filkin ruled that Griffiths’ party and electioneering work was covered by the fact he paid between Pounds 8,000 and Pounds 10,000 a year to the fees office towards the costs of the constituency office out of his own pocket.
Former Bristol MP Michael Stern, now a self-employed accountant, said: ‘I am sure Mrs Filkin is right. Nigel did nothing wrong. Most MPs do some political work from their offices and this is covered by the fact that they top up the allowances from the Commons out of their own pockets.