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Family affair: Kirkbride in battle over sibling staff
Paul Waugh and Nicholas Cecil27 May 2009
Tory MP Julie Kirkbride employs her sister as a £12,000-a-year secretary despite her living more than 100 miles from her Commons and constituency offices.
The Standard revealed today that Karen Leadley, who lives in Wimborne, Dorset, is paid out of Ms Kirkbride's taxpayer-funded expenses as a part-time executive secretary.
Wimborne is 140 miles from Bromsgove, Ms Kirkbride's constituency, and 107 miles to the House of Commons.
The MP defended the arrangements with her sister, saying: “She lives in Wimborne where she has a computer networked to my constituency and London office. She carries out tasks on a regular basis but her principal job is to do constituency correspondence during the parliamentary recess and many people have written to say how helpful she has been.”
But the controversy comes after her husband Andrew MacKay was forced to announce he is standing down at the next election as Tory MP for Bracknell after claiming tens of thousands of pounds in housing allowance despite not having a proper second home.
Ms Kirkbride's brother Ian has also reportedly been allowed to stay rent-free at her taxpayer-funded second home in Worcestershire, a claim she has dismissed as a distortion.
He is also said to have bought £1,000 worth of computer equipment delivered to this address. Ms Kirkbride has insisted it is for her use as an MP not for him to work as an IT consultant.
Her husband Andrew MacKay has announced he will stand down as MP for Bracknell at the next general election after claiming tens of thousands of pounds in housing allowance despite not having a proper second home.
Tory leader David Cameron has said that Ms Kirkbride has “questions to answer” but has stopped short of making her step down, insisting that her case was “quite different” from her husband's.
Ms Kirkbride claimed £147,165 in Commons allowances in 2007/08 to cover costs including for a second home, staff and her offices.
According to Conservatives' Right To Know documents detailing MPs expenses, Ms Leadley's job was described last year as “an executive secretary, not based at House of Commons”.
But Ms Kirkbride's Bromsgrove office today said that Ms Leadley “does not work in the constituency”.
Her brother, Ian Kirkbride, is also said to have bought computer equipment worth £1,000 using taxpayers' money.
She denied these purchases were for his use for work as an IT consultant, stressing: “I record my work as an MP in pictures. I often ask my brother to source IT equipment for me.”
Reader views (36)
I do not see how this is worse than Ms Smith living with her family in a single back room of her sisters house. She also employs her husband!! I expect to hear soon she is also on the council waiting list.
- Gary, Brentwood, 27/05/2009 07:34
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The only comment we can make is that our political and social system stinks and maybe it always did.
- Freddie, London, 27/05/2009 07:30
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Its time The people of the U.K. kicked down the doors of Parliament and man handled every one of these parasites out of our democracy.
- Les, London, 27/05/2009 00:04
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I have never trusted a woman who marries but chooses not to take her husband's surname! Very, very, odd indeed!
So it's no surprise regards the activities of the Home Secretary and others of her ilk! No surpride whatsoever!!!!
- Rj, NOTTS, 26/05/2009 23:41
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Standing down at the next general election is not good enough !! They have feathered their nest`s at our expence and it should be recovered. If it means they forego their pensions, SO BE IT.
- Terence Tedman, High Wycombe England, 26/05/2009 22:38
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The more I read about these MPS the more humiliated I feel.
This on Ms Kirkbride is symtomatic of a rotten system that is forced onto the population.
I suppose Ms harbours the useful fact that she can claim for a second home as well as her non married partner. In this way decent people who play is straight are caught twice.
This one should go immediately she is there for the money and we are being ripped off.
As an appendix the public should insist on an immediate cull of 50% of all MPS. In this way it would put a sizeable stop to the partner fiddle that is going on in this rubbish Parliament.
Good Luck to thos who are similarly disenfranchised.
Alan B
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- Alan Bradley, London England, 26/05/2009 22:24
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What happened to British integrity? These people should be ashamed to show their faces, yet they are brazenly still sticking two fingers up at the public who voted them in and whose servants they are. They have forgotten that they are their to serve the people and the country's best interests.
- Lin, LONDON ENGLAND, 26/05/2009 21:35
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And this is the Tories who most of you planks want to vote in! they have been robbing you blind for centuries, and they will be straight back in the trough as soon as you have voted in Dave and his boys.
- Kerry Trubee, purley, 26/05/2009 21:14
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Here is a new word for MP's to learn...'nepotism'..we got bored with 'sorry'..
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england, 26/05/2009 20:37
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Why is the article querying a secretarial job that can be done by telecommuting and not focussing on the other, more questionable case of her brother?
The sister's job is easily explained and reasonable in today's virtual-presence workplaces, as anyone who works in similar circumstances would know well. If you're going to slam someone, get them for the right reason. It shouldn't ever be a case of 'anything will do'.
If you demand honesty in others, look for it in yourself too when it comes to questioning them.
- Rogan, Irving, 26/05/2009 20:25
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Come on Cameron. You talked big today. Dump this one.
You know that you have to if you want us to listen.
- Roy, London, England, 26/05/2009 20:04
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Quote "I record my work as an MP in pictures" Does this woman seriously expect taxpayers to accept such a ludicrous explanation in justifying this extravagance ? Equally ridiculous are the sinister circumstances surrounding her brother and sister`s positions. Each and every exposure of these outrageous people`s total disregard for honesty and integrity leaves me speechless. Mr Cameron, act NOW to rid the Conservative Party of these scoundrels and show the electrate that you will not tolerate such behaviour.
- John E., Northants UK, 26/05/2009 20:01
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Give Cameron some credit he is kicking parasites out of the party albeit very slowly.
What is Gordon Clown doing? He says Blear's behaviour is totally unacceptable but is too scared to sack her in case Flint and Harman gang up on him.
An unelected lame duck PM is no good for the UK. Call the election for October 2009 if you dare little man.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex, 26/05/2009 19:50
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David Cameron has no option but to sack this woman now. He has made a big play about reform. He must carry on as he started and be ruthless with those who have over stepped the mark ie one Julie Kirkbride. I would put my money on her being out by this time tomorrow. Reform cannot begin to start with these sort of indivduals being allowed to remain as MPs. Sack her now!
- B Gare, Norfok Gorleston, 26/05/2009 19:46
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The greed of these people,if that is what they are sack her now!!!!!!she has to pay back the ill gotten gains as she was not even within the v lax guidelines!! has anyone been sacked yet?????
- Jean, London England, 26/05/2009 19:42
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The greed of these people,if that is what they are sack her now!!!!!!she has to pay back the ill gotten gains as she was not even within the v lax guidelines!! has anyone been sacked yet?????
- Jean, London England, 26/05/2009 19:41
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By all means criticise the abuse of the system but in this day and age there is no reason to have a secretary in the next room! Indeed my admin staff often work from home miles away and do an excellent job!
- The Professor, hackney, 26/05/2009 19:38
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Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear ....
- Marianne, SW France/London, 26/05/2009 19:23
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Just look at those faces ... a clear case of pigistis.
Apparently it is quite catching, both contagious and infectious.
According to the news, our government is unable to get this virulent and destructive desease under control.
- Ex London, Germany, 26/05/2009 19:07
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Cameron appears to be very long on rhetoric, but incapable of taking the correct action.
Why can he not understand (or want to see) that the electorate expect real action, and that doesn't include leaving the fiddlers in place until the next election.
By dragging it out - and by allowing the descredited to continue to draw a salary whilst enhancing their pensions and payoffs - he merely aggravates the running sore of public discontent.
He must be completely out of touch.
- John, Not too far from Mrs Kirkbride's sister - DORSET, UK, 26/05/2009 18:58
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Come on Cameron. If you want to pick up the protest vote then you have to behave better than the Marxist incumbents.
- Mark, London, 26/05/2009 18:55
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Alright Julie......you have made your own arrangements and then the information came to light under the Freedom of Information Act. Time to go my dear....do the honourable thing and depart.
- Roy G, Solihull, England., 26/05/2009 18:53
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Is he retiring at the next general election so he can claim his resettlement allowance.
- Dawn, Lincoln, 26/05/2009 18:46
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Cameron is only doing himself harm hanging on to these greedy parasites, what more evidenced dose he need? They are nothing more than anchors around his reforms.
He talks about sweeping changes; let’s start with his own corrupt MP’s and move on from there.
- Ad, Crawley Down, 26/05/2009 18:45
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Again simple question, has any of rats been sacked? not standing down in a years time, not sitting out of this or that quango, sacked, lib/lab/con none have been SACKED i'm afraid they are all the same i hope you all remember this on the 4th of June.
- Steve, London,in England., 26/05/2009 18:42
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Nepotism has to be stopped. MP's must be stopped from employing their family members. Taxpayers must have the opportunity to get the jobs they are funding. The jobs should be publicly advertised and go to the most qualified candidate,chosen by an independent body.Spouses & children of mp's can apply to work for non-related mp's and if they are picked on merit, then fine.
-gbrown,london
- G Brown, london uk, 26/05/2009 18:29
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take the houses of then and send them into council flats are these MP'S really representing the people who voted for them
- Kc, London, 26/05/2009 18:02
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NOTHING LIKE KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY, IS THERE?
GET RID OF ALL THESE PARASITES IMMEDIATELY.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster, 26/05/2009 17:58
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A little silly to expect her to do the "decent"thing.She is clearly without shame.Cameron MUST sack her and refer her to the police for enquiry.
Notice how all those standing down are waiting until the next election thereby ensuring severance lump sum and generous pension.I fear that even if an MP is brought to court he/she will still draw these perks if they have hung on.
- Doff, audierne france, 26/05/2009 17:40
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Cameron must be ruthless on this issue of MP's expenses, or else.....
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire, 26/05/2009 17:35
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Cameron better get her out before the PARASITE can do any more damage.
- Alex., brighton, 26/05/2009 17:29
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I am inclined to agree with the proposals by Cameron but all the illegal claims must be dealt with equally.If he is sincere in his ideas for reform then I shall be voting Tory next time but, if nothing is done which betters that of the Labour party then thats it, no more voting for Tories.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 26/05/2009 17:26
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if only john and jo soap could have the same privileged
avenues of wealth creation and 'employ' their nearest and dearest at the taxpayers expense. sure, it would be a grand affair all together, after all blood is thicker than water and charity begins at home.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 26/05/2009 17:26
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Sack the thief now Mr Cameron. Do not procrastinate.
- Vic, London, 26/05/2009 17:20
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Julie Kirkbride should do the decent thing and stand down, now.
- Dhan Raj, basildon, 26/05/2009 17:10
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IN THE NAME OF GOD THIS WOMAN HAS A BRASS NECK THE GAUL TO CLING ON WITH HER FINGER TIPS
- Jim Fennessey, london, 26/05/2009 17:07
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