MPs declare family interests

Apr 25 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

FOUR of the region’s MPs are among 106 who employ relatives – mainly wives or husbands – at the taxpayers’ expense, it was revealed last night.

They declared the names of relatives, who all work as off- ice managers earn- ing up to £40,052, after a “sleaze” scandal triggered new disclosure rules.

None are doing anything wrong, be- cause they are fully entitled to employ spouses, or other relatives, as long as their “use of allow- ances is above reproach”.

However, Parliam- ent’s sleaze watchdog has suggested a ban should be introduced in the wake of the scandal of Tory MP Derek Conway, who misused allowances by paying his student sons. The Merseyside and North Cheshire MPs, and their employed relatives, are:

Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby) – husband, Michael Jakub, as office manager.

Mike Hall (Weaver Vale) – wife, Lesley Hall, as office manager.

John Pugh (Southport) – wife, Annette Pugh, as office manager.

The fourth local MP is Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston), whose name does not appear on the register – which is voluntary until August – but has said he employs his wife, Fran, in the constituency office.

Elsewhere, the list includes Home Sec- retary Jacqui Smith, Environment Sec- retary Hilary Benn and Commons stan- dards committee chairman Sir George Young.