by There have been calls for the Prime Minister to suspend the whip from a minister while a review is conducted into claims he used his taxpayer-funded constituency office to campaign for the Conservative Party.
Paul Maynard, the pensions minister, has been referred to an investigator by Parliament’s spending watchdog over reports he charged taxpayers when producing political material.
The Sunday Times, which broke the story, also reported that the Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP demanded rent for an office that doubled as the headquarters of his local Tory association.
The Liberal Democrats urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to suspend Tory whip Mr Maynard and remove him as a minister while “these very serious allegations are investigated”.
Labor said “any suggestion that taxpayers’ money has been misused must be thoroughly investigated”.
Mr Maynard told an activist in his local Tory constituency party that it “made no sense” to create a separate office for political activity and that it would not be a “good use” of party funds, according to the Sunday Times.
Since being elected in 2010, Mr Maynard – who Mr Sunak made minister at the Department for Work and Pensions in November – has spent £106,000 on printing and related costs, a bill higher than any MP on record. according to to be analyzed by the newspaper.
A local party official told the newspaper she was concerned when she discovered the constituency association had no return address, before she was later invited to a local party meeting held at Mr Maynard’s office.
According to the report, the owners of the office charge £8,220 a year in rent, which allows Mr Maynard to use an office and boardroom.
He is said to have submitted invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the spending watchdog, which then pays the rent.
Donors who wanted to give money to the local party had to deposit money into Mr. Maynard’s own bank account or the bank account of his chief of staff, the report says.
IPSA, the watchdog set up after the MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009, says that all claims submitted by legislators must follow four principles, one of which is that they can “only claim expenditure for parliamentary purposes “.
They must also adhere to the MPs’ Code of Conduct, which includes seven principles of public life – including openness and honesty.
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, said: “Rishi Sunak must be the whip and Paul Maynard must be suspended as a minister while these very serious allegations are investigated.
“These latest allegations are another sickening reminder of how senior Conservatives have sometimes shown complete disregard for the rules.
“The Conservative Party has proven to be completely unfit to be in office. We need a general election now.”
Anneliese Dodds, chairman of the Labor Party, said: “These are very serious allegations.
“Any suggestion that taxpayers’ money has been misused must be thoroughly investigated.
“Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party have serious questions to answer.
“How was this allowed to happen? Why was the complaint against Mr. Maynard not taken seriously?
“And are other Tory MPs using taxpayer money to promote themselves and the Conservative Party?
“Rishi Sunak’s commitment to professionalism, integrity and accountability was long before these revelations. We urgently need a general election and a change with Labour.”
An IPSA spokesman said: “We will be taking this matter to the attention of IPSA’s compliance officer.”
The IPSA said it would be the duty of the compliance officer to establish the facts of the case before deciding to investigate the claims.
The watchdog said that MPs can use their offices for political party purposes as long as it is part of a pre-agreed sub-letting agreement.
The PA news agency contacted Mr. Maynard for comment.
In a statement released to The Sunday Times, he said there were “financial agreements in place with the IPSA for the ad hoc use of my constituency office by the local Conservative Association”.
He told the newspaper: “I believe these arrangements are appropriate, but I will be seeking clarification from IPSA to ensure that is the case.
“Of course, I will abide by any findings they make and ensure that any payments deemed necessary can be made promptly.”
Mr Sunak is already facing a possible by-election contest in Blackpool after an MP was caught up in a lobbying sting.
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton has taken to lobbying ministers and tabling parliamentary questions on behalf of gambling investors, according to the Irish Times.
Mr Benton has said he will appeal against a recommended 35-day suspension by the Commons Standards Committee.
If MPs back the punishment, it could leave the former Tory MP – who was sacked after the allegations came to light – facing a by-election.
