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11:19am Friday 1st February 2008
A SOUTH Essex MP has revealed he still employs his ex-wife, who works as his secretary from her home in Dorset.
However, Castle Point MP Bob Spink will not say how much taxpayers' money he pays former wife Janet for her work. The pair divorced in 2002.
Dr Spink also employs his daughter, Charlotte, from south London, in an administrative post.
The father-of-four volunteered the information in the wake of public debate stirred up by the suspension of Derek Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup.
Mr Conway has been accused of misusing public money to employ his son, Freddie, paying him more than £43,000 without being able to prove what work the university student has actually done.
Calling for an independent body to deal with such issues to avoid public confusion, Dr Spink said he had gone to great lengths to ensure all his staffing arrangements were above board and legitimate.
He said: "I employ my daughter, who is in her twenties, and paid her £4,400 this financial year, as a temporary/casual em-ployee.
"She does work compiling address databases for me to correspond with constituents, particularly petitioners, assisting with contributions in Parliament and local publicity, and compiling and reporting to me on local printed media reports.
"I also continue to employ my ex-wife. We have been divorced for some years. She is a professionally qualified secretary and PA."
However, Dr Spink said he would not reveal what he paid his wife from the public purse.
He said: "I am going to make a speech calling for these matters to be made clear for the public.
"The public has every right to know about these things - but Jan isn't interested in having her salary made public.
"She is my most senior staff member and she deals with diary and bulk correspondence work, as well as the normal research and office work. I became an MP in 1992 expressly on the basis that I continued to employ her.
"When we were divorced and Jan moved to Dorset, I got specific clearance from the Fees Office for her continued employment, in Dorset. This arrangement is widely known in my constituency."
Janet Spink, who lives in Wimborne, Dorset - some 150 miles away from Castle Point - said she had no concerns about working with her former husband.
She said: "I trained as a secretary. I am qualified to do the job and have been doing it for a long time.
"I work from home via the internet, as many people do these days. The amount of work I do varies, but I have no need to go to the Commons."
She added: "Bob has a secretary who deals with any constituents' problems."
Steve, 238-082 says...
11:58am Fri 1 Feb 08
Steve, says...
12:01pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Johnny, My Desk says...
12:05pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Curious, Sleazy and sleazier says...
12:33pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ian, says...
12:51pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Funny how youve never made it public before isnt it???
Peter Pantsless, Southend-on-Sea says...
1:11pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Happy®, A.B.C. says...
1:43pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Why does it always seem to be the Torys that are at the centre of some sleaze/scandal ???
Ethan, nr Dole Farm says...
2:03pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Happy®, A.B.C. says...
2:14pm Fri 1 Feb 08
James, says...
2:58pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Crooked MP, House of Commons says...
3:26pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Happy® wrote:Don't forget Ken jasper either.
Why does it always seem to be the Torys that are at the centre of some sleaze/scandal ???Mandelson. Geoffrey Robinson. Blunkett. Hain Wendy Alexander. Harriet Harman. John Prescott. Lord Hoyle 31/1/2008 Guido has tried to find out what punishment was meted out to Lord Hoyle yesterday. He was in trouble for getting caught taking undeclared cash-for-access from lobbyists for arms dealers to meet with the Defence Procurement Minister. Terry Mann. Ken Livingstone. Abrahams. The Smith Institute. Secretive charity that has funded Gordon Brown and Ed Balls currently being investigated by the Charities comm. Lord Levy. Speaker martin and his wife. At the moment there are two police investigations into Labour sleaze as well as the electoral commission, standards board and parliamentary committees looking into labour activities. Didn't Blair, or was it the snot gobbling Brown who said they would be "whiter than white"? After 11 years of arrogance and corruption this Labour government should be kicked out and soon.
the undertaker, crays hill says...
3:36pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ian G, Southend says...
3:51pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Duke of Rhodesia, Rhodesia says...
3:56pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ian G wrote:I think you'll find that most people were pointing out that Labour are the experts on corruption at the moment, Labour Luvvie.
I notice the Tories are out in force here trying desperately to defect blame onto Labour, following the principle that if you sling enough mud, some of it will stick. The fact is that just about all allegations against Labour ministers are about failing to declare third party donations properly. Im not condoning any of them if theyre actually proven guilty. However none of them, not a single one, involve misappropriating taxpayers money for personal gain. That is what Conway did, and thats in a very different moral class as far as Im concerned. I think people most people, excluding the Tory spin merchants who are going into overdrive here, think the same way and thats why this story has dominated the press for the past few days.
the undertaker, crays hill says...
4:05pm Fri 1 Feb 08
acid_jim, says...
4:08pm Fri 1 Feb 08
none of them, not a single one, involve misappropriating taxpayers money
evilc, essex says...
4:20pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ian G, Southend says...
4:24pm Fri 1 Feb 08
the undertaker wrote:That'll be news to people in Basildon and Thurrock who've had the good sense to elect Labour MPs for ages now.
The only people who vote for Labour these days are the Geordies and the Scousers.
And all the immigrants on the fleece uk gravy train.
Duke of Rhodesia, Rhodesia says...
4:47pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ian G wrote:That's only two wards and everyone knows that most people in Basildon and Thurrock are a bit thick and full of council estate scroungers - the kind of people Labour love.
the undertaker wrote: The only people who vote for Labour these days are the Geordies and the Scousers. And all the immigrants on the fleece uk gravy train.That'll be news to people in Basildon and Thurrock who've had the good sense to elect Labour MPs for ages now.
Furry Alligator, Wallopatopia says...
4:49pm Fri 1 Feb 08
evilc wrote:You want Jeremy Clarkson up your number 2?
I have had enough of this democracy crap. Lets have a dictatorship at least we will empty the prisons of murderers and illegal immigrant criminals. I propose me for the leader! I want Jeremey Clarkson as my number 2. I want the schoolgirl in the Ryan air advert as my no 3 and 4. At least we would get things done without the PC crap!! Any chance of a seconder please!!
Doughnut, Benfleet says...
5:21pm Fri 1 Feb 08
budgie, pitsea exile says...
7:10pm Fri 1 Feb 08
scarpa, pitsea says...
7:46pm Fri 1 Feb 08
APR, Benfleet says...
10:42pm Fri 1 Feb 08
Ethan, uk nr dole farm says...
11:04pm Fri 1 Feb 08
budgie wrote:Yeah they haven't sent there own to prison..yet. They prefer to look the other way. Which is actually worse.
The tories are well known for their greed and sleeze. Ok Labour has made some mistakes but no one has bent sent to prison like the ex-tories. It's engrained in their silver-spooned, public schoolboy culture. Look at Cameron, what a slick-haired c*&t. What does that ex-Etonian know about life? F%$k all that's what. The Tories are all about greed....pull the ladder up Jack.
Fred Freispracher, Basildon says...
11:43pm Fri 1 Feb 08
the undertaker wrote:I'm a Conservative (although the inept wallies we have in Basildon do try my patience), but you need to stop talking rot.
The only people who vote for Labour these days are the Geordies and the Scousers.
And all the immigrants on the fleece uk gravy train.
Ivan, Taiwanese Jail says...
1:00am Sat 2 Feb 08
evilc, essex says...
7:57am Sat 2 Feb 08
budgie wrote:Is that pull the ladder up from the parasitic Council House area of Pitsea?
The tories are well known for their greed and sleeze. Ok Labour has made some mistakes but no one has bent sent to prison like the ex-tories. It's engrained in their silver-spooned, public schoolboy culture. Look at Cameron, what a slick-haired c*&t. What does that ex-Etonian know about life? F%$k all that's what. The Tories are all about greed....pull the ladder up Jack.
Kipper, SS8 says...
9:44am Sat 2 Feb 08
v.oter, UK says...
5:53pm Sat 2 Feb 08
Cliff Brunt, Hadleigh says...
8:59pm Sat 2 Feb 08
Pigsy, Hadleigh says...
12:44am Sun 3 Feb 08
ShipShape, Basildonk says...
10:13am Sun 3 Feb 08
R.Rowe, canvey Island says...
12:38pm Sun 3 Feb 08
Paul Pryde, says...
1:08pm Sun 3 Feb 08
Dave the Rave, Essex says...
4:01pm Sun 3 Feb 08
ShipShape wrote:I believe that was a quotation by Johnathan Aitken Tory Mp/Junior minister when he was accused by the press in the cash for questions scandal, the one that also embroiled Neil Hamilton MP.
It\\\'s quarter past ten in the morning, mate.
Happy®, A.B.C. says...
4:55pm Sun 3 Feb 08
It seems a bit odd that Dr Spink pays his ex-wife (or rather we pay his ex-wife), while he is allegedly somewhat "loved up" with a Tory councillor?
jay, says...
5:29pm Sun 3 Feb 08
allegedly somewhat "loved up" with a Tory councillor
AndyPandy, Benfleet says...
5:50pm Sun 3 Feb 08
Mark, Benfleet says...
12:39am Mon 4 Feb 08
Duke of Rhodesia, says...
10:01am Mon 4 Feb 08
Dave the Rave wrote:Labour councillors have ended up inside - mostly for vote rigging up North.
ShipShape wrote: It\\\'s quarter past ten in the morning, mate.I believe that was a quotation by Johnathan Aitken Tory Mp/Junior minister when he was accused by the press in the cash for questions scandal, the one that also embroiled Neil Hamilton MP. I believe Aitken did some "bird" for perjury. As did Geoffrey Archer (also for perjury). It seems a bit odd that Dr Spink pays his ex-wife (or rather we pay his ex-wife), while he is allegedly somewhat "loved up" with a Tory councillor?
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APR, Benfleet says...
11:24am Fri 1 Feb 08