Short Money Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Short Money

Andrew Bridgen Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd February 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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I had rather hoped that the request for views would elicit a strong and perhaps constructive response. I am afraid that has not been visible so far, but none the less I hope that that may change between now and the end of the period of the request for views. I also point out to the hon. Gentleman that because we are facing a deficit, time is pressing and we have less fiscal slack to play with.

Andrew Bridgen Portrait Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)
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Will the Short money reforms mean that Labour has to name and state the salaries of its special advisers, particularly those who write the Leader of the Opposition’s speeches, because although I do not know their remuneration, I think they are hugely overpaid?

John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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Given the level of transparency that is already rightly expected of the Government when employing Spads, for example, it is reasonable to ask for an equivalent level of transparency with regard to how Short money is spent on people such as Damian McBride, who I understand has just rejoined the Labour party’s payroll, and Seumas Milne.