2:57pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Alexandra Barham
ST ALBANS MP Anne Main has refused to disclose whether the cards she sends to teenagers celebrating their 18th birthdays are publicly funded.
Young People in the district can expect to receive a birthday card through the post from Mrs Main together with a party political leaflet on their 18th birthdays.
The Review contacted Mrs Main's Westminster office to ask whether the Tory MP uses parliamentary expenses to distribute cards to her 18-year-old constituents, but she has failed to respond.
Rival politician, LibDem parliamentary hopeful Sandy Walkington, said: "We (LibDems) send out birthday cards, but we do it at our expense.
"I don't think that members of parliament should get a communication allowance which they can use to promote themselves for party political reasons.
"It was bought in by Tony Blair, but even David Cameron says this is an uncomfortable way of spending taxpayer money.
"She (Anne) is a heavy user of the communications allowance and other Conservative MPs don't use it at all.
"It's money that could be spent on other things - it's the taxpayer subsidised for someone to promote themselves for party political reasons - either she or the Tories should fund that."
All MPs can claim £10,000 a year from the House of Commons communications allowance to purchase stationary for political activities and campaigning.
Grant Shapps, Tory MP for Welwyn Hatfield, said he sends a letter, survey or a card to teens celebrating their 18th birthdays, but insists it is not at taxpayers' expense.
"The money is from our own fundraising," he said. "The public purse doesn't pay for it, we pay for it as a political thing."
Similarly, Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley Mike Penning, said he writes a letter to his 18-year-old contituents on their special day inviting them to the House of Commons for a private day visit, but does so at his own party's expense.
Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, insists that local Tory representatives are banned from raiding the publics' purse to fund for politically persuasive material, including the distribution of birthday cards.
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