An honourable gentleman

Jun 5 2009 Kilmarnock Standard

I READ with great interest your front page article on local MP Des Browne’s action to publish his parliamentary expenses for the past five years.

I was not, however, surprised to read that he had nothing to hide. As anyone who knows or has ever met the Right Honourable gentleman will tell you, he is honourable, and a gentleman with strong political beliefs and that he entered politics and parliament to work for the good and benefit of all the people of Kilmarnock and Loudoun, regardless of their individual party politics, and not for any personal pecuniary interest.

An advocate of Des Browne’s standing could easily earn more than two to three times an MP’s pay and be at home with his wife and children every night too.

So in that spirit of openness, transparency and accountability, when will Councillor Mr W Coffey MSP publish his expenses and claims for the past two years and will he, like Mr Browne, continue to publish them in the future?

– Dave Meechan, Kilmarnock.