Last updated at 14:24, Wednesday, 14 April 2010

A PROSPECTIVE Barrow MP who says he will only claim back the bare minimum from taxpayers has signed a “contract” swearing he will back the reform of expenses.

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PROMISE: Barrow and Furness MP Labour candidate John Woodcock with a signed contract outside Barrow Town Hall promising voters that he will uphold five pledges. LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50003882B008

John Woodcock, Labour candidate for Barrow and Furness, yesterday pledged to only claim the basics it takes to do the job of an MP.

Mr Woodcock said: “I will be transparent in any expenses that I claim, because some are necessary for MPs who are forced to live in two places at once.

“The system is going to be much tighter and much stricter and I want people to be able to see exactly what I have claimed and that I can justify it on a month by month basis.

“I will buy a house in Furness and make here my home.

“I will need to rent a property in London so there is somewhere I can live at reasonable value to the taxpayer when I am down in London. You will just see the basics of rent claimed under the new regime, which is right.

“People thought that some of the things some MPs claimed were wholly unjustified and people want to see that they are only claiming for the basics to do their job as an MP and nothing more.”

Mr Woodcock signed a contract for voters to see, stating the five main action points that he feels an MP should uphold.

He said: “I understand how let down and angry people feel with politicians after the disgraceful behaviour of some over expenses.

“I’m standing for parliament for the first time and I completely understand that the whole of my profession has been tarred and its reputation is at an all time low.

“I want to make very clear to people, by signing this contract that I will uphold the highest standards in public life.

“I will back reform of the expenses, publish my expenses online, live in the constituency as I do now and most of all, I will put Furness first and not be in it for myself.”

First published at 13:12, Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk