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Communications Allowance

No. I think that the decision to scrap the communications allowance is wrong, and I want to explain why. The communications it funds between an MP and his or her constituents are of great importance to democratic accountability. What is more important at this time than the links of accountability between MPs and their constituents? In passing, the withdrawal of the communications allowance creates a particular difficulty in highly transient big city seats such as mine, where MPs have a huge challenge in trying to make electors aware of their activities. In the absence of any effective limit on pre-election expenditure, the withdrawal of the communications allowance will severely and unfairly disadvantage incumbents facing highly funded campaigns by opposing candidates. I know that my audience has been waiting for this reference: I obviously think of the noble Lord Ashcroft and his works, but I assure the House that it does not end with him and I intend to show how. ... I shall not give way. The truth is that, against such well heeled campaigns, the communications allowance is not much, but it at least offers a line of defence against the attempted purchase of parliamentary seats. I remind the House that I make my case for the communications allowance—