Stafford and Stone Liberal Democrats have slammed Bill Cash for using a loophole to continue employing his wife, despite a change in the rules in 2017. 

Following the recent scandal surrounding Owen Paterson’s resignation, several national newspapers have reported more than 100 MPs still employ a close relative using taxpayers money, despite a rule change in 2017. 

The list includes the MP for Stone, Bill Cash, who continues to employ his wife as his Parliamentary assistant by using a loophole despite a rule change back in 2017 to prevent MPs using taxpayers funds to employ close relatives as staff members. 

Responding to the headlines, Alec Sandiford LIberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Stone said: 

“The news that Bill Cash still employs his wife using taxpayers funds is a disgraceful disregard not only for the Parliamentary rules, but also for all of Stone’s constituents who try their best to do things right”. 

“Time and time again, all we see from the government and their backbenchers, is a blatant refusal to follow the rules and set an example and instead, still continue to have a ‘nothing to see here’ attitude. In 2017, the rules were changed to prevent the ‘keep it in the family’ mentality that many MPs took advantage of by employing close relatives using taxpayers funds, which is utterly unacceptable”. 

“Bill Cash has form for this, he was made to repay £15,000 in 2009 for using taxpayers funds to rent a Notting HIll flat from his daughter. He only agreed to pay back the money to save his political career, and clearly has not learnt from past mistakes or simply does not care”. 

“Bill Cash, like many Conservative MPs, think they are untouchable as their constituency seats are seen as safe. It is taken for granted that they will always be re-elected, regardless of their behaviour and conduct. This attitude is beyond arrogant and treats constituents as fools”. 

“Many constituents have sacrificed a great deal since the start of the pandemic and see this latest round of tory sleaze as shambolic and totally unacceptable. Bill Cash should repay all funds that were used to employ his wife as a matter of urgency and decency”. 

“I also urge Bill Cash to consider his position in representing the good people of Stone and step down. This is not the first time he has broken the rules and sadly, probably will not be the last. The people of Stone and the surrounding area definitely deserve better representation than they currently have”. 

ENDS

Note to editors:

House of Commons – The Register of Members’ Financial Interests (1 November 2021: Cash, Sir William ) can be found here: 

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/211101/cash_william.htm

The independent article with full list of MPs who continue to employ relatives can be found here: 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/full-list-of-mps-who-employ-relatives-815260.html

2009 article where Bill Cash pays back £15,000 can be found here: 

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/tory-grandee-bill-cash-pays-back-ps15k-to-save-career-6758702.html

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