HAZEL BLEARS …The Good, The Bad, The Very Interesting
Value For Money Rating: minus 300 out of 10
"When I first went into Parliament I was told by existing MPs `These are the expenses, basically divide it by twelve and that's what you claim every month'…That's what was the established culture. And that was wrong…It did develop into that culture of entitlement rather than what was needed in order to do your job...It enabled you to claim things that are utterly bizarre and that no reasonable rational person would have agreed to pay for…" Hazel Blears speaking at her re-selection meeting at Swinton Civic Centre
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Hazel Blears, undisputed queen of the MPs expenses scandal, has left Labour voters in Salford with a terrible dilemma. On one hand, they might want to support Gordon Brown and Labour's social policies – or at least vote to keep the Tories out. On the other hand, she stabbed Gordon Brown in the back with her resignation from the Cabinet and `rocking the boat' badge. And then there's those disgusting expense claims…
These problems were raised at Hazel's re-selection meeting last summer when members of the Labour Party itself spoke out, including one who said "one thing you need from any politician is trust and them being honourable. If you lose that you've lost everything."
It is a major dilemma for everyone in Salford. Had Hazel stepped down and a new candidate appeared, Labour would have walked Salford. Now seven candidates, including one from the Hazel Must Go! campaign, are standing against her. All we can do is to re-present the facts as we see them, through stories on our website over the last year. Click on the links and then make your choice…
Hazel Blears' Expenses – The Full Horror click here
Hazel Blears' Expenses – Who Ate All The Pies? Hazel Apologises click here
Hazel Blears' Expenses - The Disappearing Cleaning Bills click here
Hazel Blears' Expenses - Hazel Has To Pay The Taxpayer Back click here
Hazel Blears' Expenses - Mark Thomas Comes To Hazel's House click here
Hazel Blears' Expenses - Martin Bell Comes To Salford click here
Hazel Blears' Husband And His Near £80,000 Pay From Salford Royal Hospital click here
Hazel Blears Wins 7 Mary Burns Awards click here
For more details put the word `Blears' into the search engine on the top of the page.
Most Extravagant Claim: £295 for a mirror
Hazel Blears: Expenses Value For Money Rating: minus 300 out of 10 – let down by extravagant second home, lavish office and furniture costs, claiming personal accountancy on the taxpayers, just everything. There's even a `small bin' to be sick in, claimed on expenses at £19.95
* You can see all of Hazel Blears' expenses here
** For a full list of candidates standing in Salford and Eccles see here
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