Southend West MP David Amess has still failed to face his constituents in any public meeting, to answer questions in respect of his allowances.

Instead, he has decided to give his account in a local free newspaper.

Interestingly, he gives no account whatsoever, on his new £1,500 website which went live last month – the website that was no doubt prompted by the expenses scandal and the public outcry over MPs use of taxpayers’ money.

During the article, the Southend West MP says, when referring to claims that the expenses were “… wrong, too lax and too generous.” “Well, there is not much I can do about that now.”

This is a ludicrous statement when one considers he has voted, on at least two occasions, to prevent changes to the very same allowances system!

He refers to the maximum £400 food allowance he has claimed each and every month and that the term “food allowance” is: “…misleading and inappropriate – and yet still fails to tell us what he has actually spent the money on!

In addition, he makes absolutely no reference to his annual claims of £646 to have his self-assessment tax returns completed by a firm of chartered accountants.

Mr Amess also states: “…that there are much, much more serious issues at stake than what MPs make in terms of allowances”.

How dare he be so dismissive of this scandal, his part in it, and the importance placed upon it by the public, including his own constituents.

Garry Sheen
Boyce Hill Close
Leigh