Questions linger over Betsy’s dairy job
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer, is considering whether to investigate allegations that Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith infringed upon Westminster rules by employing his wife Betsy as his diary secretary.
The Sunday Times claims Mrs Duncan Smith between September 2001 and December 2002 received around 18,000 pounds a year, “little work in return.”
And Vanessa Gearson, deputy director of Conservative Central Office, is reported to have accused Duncan Smith of pressing her to make a false statement over his wife’s employment.
Ms Gearson, who once headed Mr Duncan Smith’s office, sent an email to Theresa May, the party chairman, in January warning that “the last thing we would wish for is a Crick style investigation into his affairs.”
The story was spearheaded Michael Crick, an investigative journalist who was left perplexed after BBC Newsnight declined to broadcast his report, after receiving a letter from Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, the Conservative leader’s solicitors, who claimed legal proceedings would ensue should the programme go to air.
He is leading the call for Sir Philip to investigate.
According to parliamentary rules, salary must mirror the work performed.
Regulations state: “The staffing allowance is available to meet the costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred on the provision of staff to help members perform their parliamentary duties.”
Mr Duncan Smith denies any irregularity and any wrongdoing.
