Forum Topic

Ann Keen in another national newspaper report

With an election coming, I am becoming rather worried about who to vote for.I don't feel comfortable about voting for my current MP. In fact I have moved my vote to parents address where the Labour MP has at least been consistently honourable.What I have heard and read is too much for me to be comfortable with as a lifelong Labour voterHaving just been passed a cutting which I believe is the Sunday Express from last Sunday, I am at a loss as to why this MP can remain in office.This report seems well researched and written, not the usual sort of drivel. It seems rather restrained.I'm surprised no-one else in Brentford has picked up on it or have I missed something.Please Mrs Keen, Come Clean and get this stuff out in the open and dealt with before it is too late.

Anthony Waller ● 5876d52 Comments

JamesYou're missing the point, Cllr Hibbs was elected to represent our local Isleworth ward, the ward I'm standing for, that's why I made the commitment not to move out like she did!! The other Cllrs you mention were voted in for other areas

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5874d

Like I said, Labour didn't support the increases. Labour Councillors were blocked from tabling an amendment to provide a further option to hold allowances to their previous level.Until Labour held office in 2006, the basic allowance stood at £9,525. After the July 2007 Hanworth by-election, the Tories (supported by some members of the ICG and Lib Dem groups) voted to increase this to £9,763.Fair enough. But they also voted to hike the Special Responsibility Allowance of the ten Executive members from £6,474 to £16,000 (meaning they each receive a total of £25,753 + expenses).They additionally voted to hike the council leader's Special Responsibility Allowance from £15,554 to £34,000 (giving him a total of £43,763 + expenses) and that of the Deputy Leader from £8,994 to £20,000 (giving him a total of £29,763 + expenses).This was all then back-dated to the previous April.

Robin Taylor ● 5874d

"So what was the basic allowance and Exec Member allowance in her day before Labour supported the increases?"

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

Right Steve I'm on a proper keyboard now but have a one year old grandson assistant on my lap,things may go awry."And your views on the recent ICG/Tory deal whereby the ICG more or less went on a voting strike until you got a quarter of a £million to spend exclusively in a currently held ward?" "I don't understand Tony? And I ask this with the greatest of respect. Isn't that good politics? You don't sit back and let the bully boy Tories walk all over you until you get something back for the people you represent? Isn't that good? Doesn't it prove that the ICG won't capitulate for anyone? Or am I missing some vital point in your argument?"  No Steve I don't think it is good politics,your last point first...how does it prove that the ICG won't capitulate?  Your objection to the budget can only have been that you hadn't got the money,nothing else in the budget was changed to make it more acceptable to the ICG,clause 11 was a late addendum. So... either you agreed with the budget and held out for the money,or you disagreed with it but capitulated when the money was on the table. Either scenario is unacceptable behaviour.    I take it that "Bully Boy Tories" isn't an ICG slogan,but one of your own,if you feel that way then wouldn't it be better to bring the bullying out into the open verbatim,the public would like to know these things and make up their own minds and you never know they may change their vote in your favour.Honesty is what will win votes,not hoodwinking the public with ill gotten gains,we aren't stupid!

Tony Wood ● 5874d

They did not vote against them either as they all abstained I believe

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

"So what was the basic allowance and Exec Member allowance in her day before Labour supported the increases?"Labour didn't support the increases.

Robin Taylor ● 5874d

Lib Dem councillor Ray Fincher - moved to Ashford (Middx)ICG councillor Genevieve Hibbs - moved to Hayes (Middx)Conservative councillor Peter Pitt - moved to SpainLabour councillor Mohammed Chaudhary - moved to PakistanA terrible business about Councillor Hibbs Robin, I agree.  Thank you for bringing it to our attention, I'm sure to vote Labour now.

James Dash ● 5874d

"Allowances were peanuts in her day"So what was the basic allowance and Exec Member allowance in her day before Labour supported the increases?

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

I'm not sure if it was the day after she was elected, but I think you'll find that ICG Cllr Hibbs moved to Hayes pretty swiftly after getting elected in 2002.Am I Correct?

Robin Taylor ● 5874d

Paul,Just for the record, I think you'll find that in previous years, when Labour were in control, they too budgeted for allowances increases (or at the very least mooted the possibility of large increases) but then such proposed pay hikes were actually voted down by the Labour Group themselves.This happened in 2003, when your boss (Chiswick Tory Councillor Peter Thompson) used the term "fat cats" to describe a proposed increase. He now pays himself far more than was being proposed by the former Labour leader of LBH at the time.Incidentally, what is Vanessa's view on all of this? Allowances were peanuts in her day - what's your opinion on Paul's £25k Vanessa, justified or not?

Robin Taylor ● 5874d

She is probably referring to the Conservative Peter Pitt as I doubt she would be bringing Mohammed Choudhry, living in Pakistan, to our attention.

James Dash ● 5874d

"or move out of the borough the day after I'm elected" I am interested in this. Who was it?

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

To book a Tidy Town Bulky waste collection please contact 020 8583 5555.One free collection each year will be available to people receiving:council tax benefithousing benefitpension creditincome supportdisability living allowanceattendance allowanceYou may need to provide written evidence that you are receiving the benefit at the time of collection.The free collection will be for a maximum of five items, with additional items charged at £5 each.

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

Steve...I will answer your question later,I'm using a PDA with keys the size of small baked beans which is driving me nuts...later!

Tony Wood ● 5874d

SueAs stated many many times the Labour Group had already budgeted for the increase in allowances before they lost power and not one of them has ever refused the increaseFor the record also I did not vote for the increase myself but did accept it as did all 60 councillors

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

"are you really proud of the ICG Steve??" Sue I am not arguing or debating about pride of/in the ICG. I am simply asking Tony an honest question on the point he raised about £250K raised for an exclusive Isleworth spend. i.e. to be spent on the people of Isleworth which I believe you are wanting to represent. The point you raise about the cut in Language support teachers certainly concerns me even if not relevant to the point Tony is trying to make but I have a question on it anyway which you may be able to answer as you raise the issue within this thread. Was it means tested? Oh and by the way - I am not an OAP but I did recently buy a new fridge (isn't that what one normally does when one's fridge packs up) and the store was quite happy to remove my old one when delivering the new one. I believe this is the norm for most stores as a quick google will reveal. I guess now you will say OAP's don't know about google or they don't replace old fridges....?

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

PaulI'll make a public 'non-retractable statement' that I won't vote to hike my allowances like the ICG and Tories did while cutting services to the bone, and I won't take nine holidays a year, or claim for the cost of flying back from Portugal, or move out of the borough the day after I'm elected :-)How much will you and the Tories be raising your allowances by if you get back, Paul, I bet Thompson has already worked out how much.. wink wink.. but I doubt voters will be told this side of the election

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5874d

"Should not all councillors fight tooth and nail for the residents who elected them"Yes of course they should,but not by using what is tantamount to blackmail,if all Hounslow councillors behaved in the same manner as you did then anarchy would rule,and the budget would be stuffed. Really it's an abuse of your position and a very questionable practice,can we expect more? Personally I find it really repugnant that the ICG can pull such a stunt and then accuse others (the Keens,and I'm not a fan)of all manner of wrong doings,get your house in order!

Tony Wood ● 5874d

SueWith the greatest of respect you are completely out of your depth and I suggest you pop to Southall HQ for some more brainwashing?Now how about explaining the funding for these extra 100 uniformed officers you have promised to supply in this area as mentioned in your leaflet or the 250,000 new homes?Do you still think that Council Tax pays for these or is it just complete lies?I also noticed that you have pledged to cut Council Tax despite your Comrades raising it every single year they were in power so how can we possibly believe a word you say?

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

You're missing a very valid point in Tony's argument, the ICG sold out to the Tories they cut Community Teachers, Language Support teachers, £2 million from the education budget, OAPs now have to fork out £25 to get an old fridge removed, that's why there's more dumping (see Vanessa's splash in today's Chronicle) are you really proud of the ICG Steve??

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5874d

"And your views on the recent ICG/Tory deal whereby the ICG more or less went on a voting strike until you got a quarter of a £million to spend exclusively in a currently held ward?" I don't understand Tony? And I ask this with the greatest of respect. Isn't that good politics? You don't sit back and let the bully boy Tories walk all over you until you get something back for the people you represent? Isn't that good? Doesn't it prove that the ICG won't capitulate for anyone? Or am I missing some vital point in your argument?

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

I am not sure what you believe the connection to be Tony?If you are asking if I believe that the Community Group did the right thing by fighting for issues that affect residents in the wards they represent then the answer is yes of course I do unlike the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Group who believe restoring the valued community centre in question to be a "waste of money"Should not all councillors fight tooth and nail for the residents who elected them

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

""Not all of us are like your beloved Ann K££n Sharon and most of have morals and principles and are not out to simply feather our own nests and enjoy a luxury retirement on the backs of decent people who have to keep shelling out for these two freeloaders"   And your views on the recent ICG/Tory deal whereby the ICG more or less went on a voting strike until you got a quarter of a £million to spend exclusively in a currently held ward? C'mon Paul the Si£ence is Sa£ient!

Tony Wood ● 5874d

"If u r elected"Paul god you are so Funny...lol i just fell off the Sofa!!!Everyone i know in Isleworth will be voting 4 the ICG as they are wanted not the Labour Group!!

Simon Anderson ● 5874d

"are you publicly going to make a non retractable statement that you will refuse all allowances if you were ever to be elected?"I guess the question is also - will Sue give up her day job and offer 100% commitment to Council matters if ever elected.

Steve Taylor ● 5874d

SueI receive £9,763 basic allowance as do all Councillors with Hounslow plus I also receive an extra £16,000 Special Responsibility Allowance for being on the Executive as Lead Member for Community Engagement,Community Safety and also Parking so quite a lot of work as I am sure you can imagineSince being made redundant almost two years ago thanks to your beloved corrupt Labour Party I have in that time devoted myself full time to being a Councillor and also not claimed a single penny in benefits of any shape or formAs you appear to be very hung up on this matter despite not one of your Labour colleagues refusing their allowances are you publicly going to make a non retractable statement that you will refuse all allowances if you were ever to be elected?

Paul Fisher ● 5874d

SueCan i ask do u think you will win in May?Will you group be outside Schools confussing Ethnic Locals into Voting Labour?Will you be giving Children Stickers with "Vote Labour" without parents permission again?When you loose in May will you shake the Hands of the Other Candidates and the Winners which will be the ICG again??

Simon Anderson ● 5874d

That's true on the tax front and is also unacceptable. Personally I think the whole lot stinks. Regardless of political colours.But several unions invest overseas and have their accounts offshore for the same reasons of avoiding tax.The Keens expenses are well recorded, it's not the amount it's what is being claimed and how it is done. And it not just the money either but the low ethics. Just because one can does not mean it is right and if other local Labour MPs can manage to be responsible and frugal why not they?And if Mary MacLeod or uncle Tom Cobley were my MP I would be feeling exactly the same.

Anthony Waller ● 5875d

Anthony,Difference between Cashcroft & the Unions is that union members actually pay tax in this country!! Ashcroft gets out of it by keeping his lolly in Belize.When I make a donation to the Labour Party I do it on my after-tax earnings.It may surprise you to know that Ann Keen claims smaller amounts of expenses than most MPs do, so I don't see her Tory opponent Mary Moneybags Mcleod being any better

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5875d

PaulA lot of that stuff can be easily explained, like the private health care for an employee was because she owed a duty of care to her members of staff, he was entitled to 'occupational health assessment', didn't he injure himself at work or something?  The mobile phone bill was because she was working for Gordon Brown, surely she shouldn't fork out for Government business? The communications allowance is for providing a service to her constituents and issuing leaflets with her contact details etc. - every MP uses it! and she doesn't employ family members so your stuff about wages for two sons is just another smear.Isn't the Tesco shopping bill to buy food for interns, it seems all MPs buy that sort of stuff.I read somewhere you pocket 25000 squid for being a Councillor - and how about an apology for your Tory colleague Peter Thompson taking taxpayer-funded jollies to Cannes!?!

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5875d

"Not all of us are like your beloved Ann K££n Sharon and most of have morals and principles"You've got morals and principles have you Paul??  So tell us all how much you pocket in councillor allowances

Councillor Sue Sampson ● 5875d

"Most of us would have done the same in their shoes."Thats the fundamental difference between the Labour party and people with morals then is it?

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

Michael Ashcroft, Unite, Unison, Pete Townshend it matters not your political persuasion, you are free to donate and fund. Ashcroft has millions to spend or waste but so have unions. Not a lot of difference. But money and the craving for it is the evil here.Problem for the Keens goes too far back. They were the first to get caught with their fingers in the till and shamelessly carried on when they really had a chance to stop, reflect and restore some honour. But they just carried on, shamelessly.And whilst they were the first caught it was across the party spectrum but that is no excuse for carrying on.

Anthony Waller ● 5875d

Then you would have a much stronger argument if not one of the Tories had made claims. But as you don't, the vilification of the Labour MPs does not carry the weight which you would like to attach to the Keens.But let's be clear, I shall not be sad if they go because of the expenses issue. But neither do I feel comfortable with cashcroft spending on the Tories. That kind of advantage also may lead them to look about for further favours if they win a seat. The new rules have now been published, and while no rules are perfect, the opportunity for 'using' tax payers money will diminish. But as for lobbying, well that is much harder to control.

George Knox ● 5875d

Exactly. And when you consider that even the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee decided that £5678 of the money claimed in respect of their Waterloo flat was wholly and exclusively incurred as a result of them having nowhere else to live at the time, you can understand that.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8562157.stm

Ian Fillingham ● 5875d

"Not all of us are like your beloved Ann K££n Sharon and most of have morals and principles and are not out to simply feather our own nests and enjoy a luxury retirement on the backs of decent people who have to keep shelling out for these two freeloaders"   And your views on the recent ICG/Tory deal whereby the ICG more or less went on a voting strike until you got a quarter of a £million to spend exclusively in a currently held ward?

Tony Wood ● 5875d

Various extra alleged offices,extra sat navs and laptops,private health care for staff,Waterloo flat nine miles from Brentford,Tesco shopping bills,sound system repairs,duplicate council tax bills,£9000 mobile phone bills,cleaning bills,Holiday Inn hire,wages for two sons,communications allowance spent on the last day.......................Still we would all do it if we were in their shoes according to Sharon Smith and I expect that Robin Taylor and Sue Sampson feel exactly the same

Paul Fisher ● 5875d

"The Keens claimed for what they were entitled to, no more no less.  Most of us would have done the same in their shoes."Speak for yourself Sharon we are not all on the fiddle and there are lots of Honest people out there who would NOT do what the K££ns did are you saying you would off??

Simon Anderson ● 5875d

They used to sign each claim for "What they were entitled to" that the items were ""wholly exclusively and necessarily incurred for the purposes of carrying out their duties as an MP." I guess that it is the view of some of the constituents that items may not have been exclusively or necessarily associated with doing their job as MPs.

Tim Henderson ● 5875d

"The Keens claimed for what they were entitled to, no more no less.  Most of us would have done the same in their shoes."The Keens have been exposed many times for claiming what they are not entitled to and I believe they are currently under investigation for apparently needing four offices.Not all of us are like your beloved Ann K££n Sharon and most of have morals and principles and are not out to simply feather our own nests and enjoy a luxury retirement on the backs of decent people who have to keep shelling out for these two freeloaders

Paul Fisher ● 5875d

The Keens claimed for what they were entitled to, no more no less.  Most of us would have done the same in their shoes.  What worries me is the influence Cashcroft will have over Mrs Macleod if she gets in, that's the real issue and the Tories/ICG don't want to talk about it.

Sharon Smith ● 5875d

Difference is Kerry Katona & Co do not represent me or my interests or spend any of my money.People in public office do and they should treat the trust bestowed with honour and respect.And yes, Footballers and celebs get freebies and huge amounts of money in part for the gaze of the media (which most court} or the inconvenience of being in the public gaze. It's a form of compensation but the expectation is that they behave impeccably. Most do, but we all know about those who don't. But if you don't like the way footballers get paid or behave then you don't have to go to a football game or subscribe in any way to the game.With Public Servants it is different.

Michael Brandt ● 5875d

"but are you saying that MP's should now be aligned with them too?"Upon reflection I guess I have answered by own question.Vote Jordan for Labour MPDoherty for Greens, Ant&Dec for Lib Dems. Now lets see....who could stand for Tories??

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

I am wondering from where Adam thinks we source a moral code.

George Knox ● 5875d

"such as footballers getting paid 6 figure weekly salaries, the strange media/public fascination with 'celebrities' like Jordan, Kerry Katona, Pete Doherty etc, etc, etc, etc."Adam I think most will have 'opinions' of the above as you quite rightly point out but are you saying that MP's should now be aligned with them too?

Steve Taylor ● 5875d

Oh please, let's get real - all of us could point to virtually anyone and anything in society these days to say the the moral stance is upsetting and sets the wrong example, such as footballers getting paid 6 figure weekly salaries, the strange media/public fascination with 'celebrities' like Jordan, Kerry Katona, Pete Doherty etc, etc, etc, etc.All I can say is you must get upset an awful lot...

Adam Beamish ● 5875d

Well British papers are not everyones cup of tea in their methods, but I suspect they are reduced to such stories by the way so many up to no good have become so deft at covering their tracks.The lengths that all sides of the house went to to prevent the expenses scandal being published is the key example.In a free society we absolutely have the right to know how our hard earned money paid ito the state is being used or abused.I note that there are very, very few legal challenges by comparison from people who are more than able to do so.Rather than the padding on this story, it is the small facts that are revealled that are telling to me.My concern is that with these two, plus their offspring, there have been rather too many revalations for comfort and even if they have not broken the law, it is the moral stance that upsets me. Especially from a socialist point of view.It sets the wrong example.

Anthony Waller ● 5875d

I agree with you actually Robin that the article is quite grubby regarding the circumstances of her giving up a child for adoption when very young as rimes were certainly very different then and her sons sexuality has no relevance to the story whatsoever..........however there are also very serious accusations about the £9,000 run up in mobile phone charges some or all allegedly by him which she claimed as expenses,false passes for the Commons and her failing to register an interest regarding the Company he worked for claiming she forgot to do so.Another interesting point was that he use to work for her as coupled with David Keen working for his Father Alan this is certainly a case of looking after your own is it not and both sons receiving a substantial salary from the Public Purse for jobs which they may or not be suitably qualified to doI hope she is investigated regarding the alleged mobile phone misuse but I guess once again she will be let off with a slap on the wrist and I bet this also happens withe the current investigation in to the four offices claimed for.

Paul Fisher ● 5876d

I read the Sunday Express article when someone posted it on the Chiswick Forum over the weekend.Their smear story was nasty, shallow and vindictive. In fact, it is just what we have come to expect from the Sunday Express.It attacks Ann Keen on the alleged grounds that she has been full of remorse because, due to social circumstances, she had to give her baby up for adoption when she was seventeen. Talking about rubbing her nose in it, quite frankly the article stinks - especially as it brings up the issue of her son's sexuality.The fact is that having a child out of wedlock, in the 1960s, and in a Welsh village, had a tremendous social stigma attached to it.But the Thatcher-loving journos at the Express would no doubt like to turn the clock back to Victorian times, and have shown themselves to be quite willing to grub around by raising the issue of what the MP did as a teenager.No wonder journalists have an even worse reputation than politicians.

Robin Taylor ● 5876d

From the article:"The Keens’ spokeswoman said yesterday: “Ann and Alan Keen have never abused their positions. They have acted appropriately at all times.”"So either their spokeswoman is a downright liar, or she doesn't consider breaching the law of the land by committing fraud to be either an abuse of position or an inappropriate act.

Ian Fillingham ● 5876d

God she is in Isleworth lately more now then she has been over the past 4yrs is there a election coming up????And i agree why is this woman still in Government is beyond me she should off done the decent thing and stood down at least Labour would off had a chance on winning with a new Candidate then putting her up again!!!!!!!!!Only a few weeks to put up with her now

Simon Anderson ● 5876d

I did  not see this but it is on a website. Link pasted Below. I quite agree with Anthony, There are just too many of these stories creeping out from the same people.It's not right for this  kind of carry on and I would feel just the same if they were Tory, Lib-Dem or Monster Raving Loony.Personally I think every MP tainted with this culture of corruption should do the honest thing and go.The whole system stinks and it has been reinforced by the so called pillars of democracy which is probably why the pillars of democracy are so weakened.http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/165631/Did-secret-son-exploit-Brown-s-MP-for-profit-

Michael Brandt ● 5876d