Local Lib Dem MPs offer top 'value for money'
January 12, 2005 12:00 AM
A survey of the 'value for money' of 73 London MPs by the Evening standard (11 January) shows that three lib Dem MPs topped the league table, including Twickenham MP Vincent Cable who was second. He was one of eight MPs to get a five star rating: four Lib Dems and four Labour (no Conservatives). All London Liberal Democrat MPs (including Richmond's Jenny Tonge) were in the top 15.
The league table measures 'activity levels' (questions to ministers; attendance at votes; letters to constituents) on which Vincent Cable was second of the 73 MPs and Jenny Tonge 8th, and 'value for money' which also takes into account MPs expenses. Top MP for both was Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton; three Conservative MPs were bottom of the table.
The Evening Standard commented: "remarkably, three hard working Liberal Democrats top the table even though the party holds only seven seats in London, this can be a matter of pride for the party".
Twickenham Lib Dem MP Vincent Cable said:
"It is gratifying to have such a positive and objective endorsement. It is right in principle that, when schools, hospitals, private sector managers and workers are being judged on their value for money, MPs should be subject to the same discipline. As with all league tables it is possible to quibble with the measurements; but independent bodies like the Hansard Society have approved the ratings".
Andrew Dakers, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth, added:
"In the top five, four are Lib Dems, with Paul Burstow top, Vince Cable second, Tom Brake fourth, Simon Hughes fifth. Ed Davey is fourteenth and Jenny Tonge fifteenth out of a total of 73. Sarah Teather was excluded from the survey as she has not served the full time period. The three least value MPs were all Conservatives, with Michael Portillo coming in at 71, Derek Conway at 72, and John Wilkinson 73rd."
"Taking the top three places in the Evening Standard poll is a matter of considerable pride for the Liberal Democrats. Voters in Brentford, Chiswick, Isleworth and Hounslow may like to take these findings into account at the coming election when reflecting on the 68th place of Ann Keen and the poor performance of Conservative MPs in London. If elected I am committed to working with my colleagues to deliver the very best value for money for my constituents and restoring their trust in the political process."
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