Forum Topic

More bad press for our Annie

From the Brentford+Isleworth Times online and hot on the heels of Big Al claiming £88 to have his toilet unblocked!!http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/hounslowandchiswick/4452009.MP_Ann_Keen_under_fire_over_expenses_claims/Health Minister Ann Keen MP has come under fire after it was revealed she claimed £232 in parliamentary expenses for treatment at a private hospital. The former nurse charged taxpayers for two bills from the Blackheath Hospital - which boasts top-of-the-range technology, “spacious” consulting rooms and a lower risk of infection than in NHS hospitals. The Brentford and Isleworth MP was accused of hypocrisy as censored details of her expenses were officially published for the first time last week. Councillor Andrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Brentford and Isleworth, said: “For a junior health minister - and someone that has been a longstanding and vocal supporter of the NHS - to apparently be giving up on the NHS for treatment as these claims suggest, needs urgent explanation.” Details of the two visits in August 2005, costing £150 and £82, were blacked out, along with much of the expenses documents released online. Apologies for not checking in advance with Dan Filson what is allowed to be posted today!

Paul Fisher ● 6184d14 Comments

"As they were necessarily incurred associated with her parliamentary duties it may well be they were part of an investigation as to how the private health service operated. "You are taking the p***, right?

Colin Murphy ● 6182d

Are you a lonely individual Robin, is Southall without an MP, or is everything OK there?

Tony Stavides ● 6182d

As we all know, Ann was only elevated to Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health  on 28 Jun 2007 when her old boss Gordon Brown became Prime Minister.The invoices relating to Blackheath Hospital appear to date from 1st August 2005 and thus she would not have been a Health Minister at the time. As they were necessarily incurred associated with her parliamentary duties it may well be they were part of an investigation as to how the private health service operated. Unfortunately the Telegraph website is yet to reveal much of the complete unredacted version of Ann's expense files. We may have to wait further.

Tim Henderson ● 6183d

What would shock me is why a Health Minister in a Labour Government who has worked in the NHS would even dream of using private health care at all, for anyone. Bit like a  councillor in this borough paying for private education in another borough whilst being a party to cutting the education budget in this one really.

Vanessa Smith ● 6183d

Because at times that is what it seems to be.

Robin Taylor ● 6183d

Perhaps it was a family member of staff Andy? Though if this story is true and Robin rarely if ever disputes what is published in the local press as we can see by his constant reference to his scrapbook and cuttings collection over the years,then it shows what a complete hypocrite this woman is.

Paul Fisher ● 6183d

Robin,Why would a member of Mrs K££n's staff be entitled to private health care at the tax payers expense?

Andrew Sibley ● 6183d

Robin, Why have you given us the label witchhunters? I don't regard myself as a witchhunter, just a Brentford voter disgusted with our MP, Ann Keen, and her MP husband, Alan, for their greedy expenses claims.

Stuart Parrott ● 6183d

After all one should never jump to wild conclusions, eh Robin?

Phil Andrews ● 6183d

Why don't we wait for the facts, Stuart?A few days ago I saw another Labour MP on the telly being cross-examined about a bill relating to private health treatment.It emerged that it was on behalf of an employee and that he (the MP) didn't personally agree with private health.The problem with all this blacked out information is that we do not know the full facts about who it was for, what it was for and why it happened.

Robin Taylor ● 6184d

Robin,If this claim is true, I'm genuinely shocked. Health Minister Ann Keen MP has come under fire after it was revealed she claimed £232 in parliamentary expenses for treatment at a private hospital. Stuart

Stuart Parrott ● 6184d

My god, you really are hilarious aren't you Paul?

Robin Taylor ● 6184d

I predict his response will involve the red hot news that Phil Andrews was in the NF 25 years ago and that Chris Grayling MP recently visited the Borough as a guest of a Conservative PPC and the fact that on occasions he travels from Southall in to Hounslow and buys a Mars Bar entitles him to be the official spokesperson for the Keens.Dan Filson the new and self appointed moderator of this forum will also be calling for a halt to this thread and meanwhile the local Labour Group will keep schtum hoping it will all go away.

Paul Fisher ● 6184d

I am expecting Robin Taylor to give us all a full explanation........won't you Robin?

Tony Stavides ● 6184d