MPs' expenses and democratic reform

If elected as MP Andrew has always said he would not claim any of the £17,669 per annum that husband and wife Alan and Ann Keen MP are each claiming as an 'Additional Costs Allowance'. Living in the constituency, just 9 miles from the city centre, he will use public transport to go to work, like most people do.

Given the current crisis in confidence Andrew decided to go further in clarifying the value for money he wants to bring to the local community. He would not claim the London weighting allowance nor any food allowances. It is time to bring an end to this abuse of our political system and focus on the economic and climate crisis.

In June 2009 Andrew organised -- and funded -- a series of four well attended public debates in Brentford, Chiswick, Hounslow and Isleworth, under the banner of ‘Take Back Power Hounslow’. These set out proposals for democratic reform a local, national and European level. Andrew has advocated local reform proposals, which Hounslow Tories have refused to support, over the past four years in the Council (see photo left). For more information see www.takebackpowerhounslow.org

Since Labour won a majority of 67 in 2005 on the support of 22 per cent of the electorate Andrew has again backed the calls for electoral reform. If you are in favour of making the composition of the House of Commons more representative of the way the country casts its votes please sign up to support The Independent newspaper's Campaign for Democracy and Make My Vote Count.

The momentum for incorporating proportional representation into the electoral system is growing. The practicality of PR has been proved in the election of UK members of the European Parliament and the additional member systems in the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies. The case is strong, so what we need is pressure on the Prime Minister to force his hand. In the Autumn of 2009 Andrew and other local Liberal Democrats supported The Gravy Train campaign when it visited Brentford & Isleworth constituency. Watch the video...

In February 2010 Andrew was interviewed by Channel 4 News on his views regarding Lord Ashcroft funding the Tory campaign in Brentford & Isleworth constituency

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