Ever since the details of MPs expenses were first published, people have been furious about the excessive, unacceptable and possibly illegal claims made by some of the people we send to represent us in the House of Commons.I can understand people feeling like that - MPs from all parties have abused the trust we placed in them.
As your local Conservative Candidate I want to make it clear to you that I will not play the system.
I will not bend the rules.
I will not break the law.
Instead, I will abide by the standards that politicians expect others to live by.
My commitment to you:
I, Derek Thomas, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the St Ives Constituency, promise to:
1. Publish on my personal website details of all my personal and office expenses incurred as your Member of Parliament.
2. Open up my unedited expense claims to local newspapers at the end of every financial year.
3. Never claim for food.
4. Pay for my own laundry and dry-cleaning.
5. Never claim for furniture or household goods: and
6. Meet my own tax liabilities – such as stamp duty – without claiming them from the tax-payer.
7. Hold regular public meetings where constituents can question me about my performance, my voting record and my expenses.
I am standing to be an MP because, as a local resident and father of two young children, I want to make St Ives a better place to live. I hope these commitments convince you that if you place your trust in me I will not abuse it. Let me know what you think of what David Cameron and I are proposing - and what else we could do to restore your trust.
