Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tories on tour
This morning's Western Mail has an exclusive on the migratory habits of the Welsh Assembly Conservative Group.
According to the paper nine Conservative AMs, Mohammad Asghar, Andrew RT Davies, Paul Davies, William Graham, Mark Isherwood, David Melding, Darren Millar, Nick Ramsay and Brynle Williams, all claimed £70 for an overnight stay at the luxury Conrah Hotel, three miles south of Aberystwyth on June 10, which is the birthday of Mr Ramsay, who represents Monmouth and is his party’s Shadow Finance Minister.
They say that eight of the AMs also claimed £25 in meals and subsistence, while the ninth – South Wales East’s Mr Asghar, who defected from Plaid Cymru last year, claimed £35.50. Altogether, the AMs claimed £865.50.
This comes on top of previous controversies regarding the travels of the Welsh Assembly Conservative Group. The paper reminds us that on a similar trip to North Wales undertaken by seven Tory AMs in June 2009, a total of more than £800 was claimed. There is also the time, last year when nine Tory AMs spent more than £6,500 of taxpayers’ money on a “fact-finding” trip to Brussels, staying in Hotel Amigo, which bills itself as the city’s best luxury hotel.
The budget debates will be interesting this year.
According to the paper nine Conservative AMs, Mohammad Asghar, Andrew RT Davies, Paul Davies, William Graham, Mark Isherwood, David Melding, Darren Millar, Nick Ramsay and Brynle Williams, all claimed £70 for an overnight stay at the luxury Conrah Hotel, three miles south of Aberystwyth on June 10, which is the birthday of Mr Ramsay, who represents Monmouth and is his party’s Shadow Finance Minister.
They say that eight of the AMs also claimed £25 in meals and subsistence, while the ninth – South Wales East’s Mr Asghar, who defected from Plaid Cymru last year, claimed £35.50. Altogether, the AMs claimed £865.50.
This comes on top of previous controversies regarding the travels of the Welsh Assembly Conservative Group. The paper reminds us that on a similar trip to North Wales undertaken by seven Tory AMs in June 2009, a total of more than £800 was claimed. There is also the time, last year when nine Tory AMs spent more than £6,500 of taxpayers’ money on a “fact-finding” trip to Brussels, staying in Hotel Amigo, which bills itself as the city’s best luxury hotel.
The budget debates will be interesting this year.
