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MP was 'silly' on expenses
THE expenses scandal exposed "some silly mistakes" made by current MP Tom Levitt, according to Caitlin Bisknell — the woman selected to run as Labour Parliamentary Candidate for High Peak at the General Election.
Last Saturday Councillor Bisknell, from Buxton, beat Lorraine Warwick, from Bedfordshire, in the battle to replace Mr Levitt, who will stand down at the next election, expected to be in May.
Now, in a frank, wide-ranging interview with The Buxton Advertiser, Cllr Bisknell commented on the expenses furore, which continues to dominate politics, both locally and nationally.
In March 2009 Mr Levitt used expenses to purchase four wine glasses from John Lewis in Oxford Street, London.
Although this claim was approved at the time, Cllr Bisknell said: "Personally, I would've bought the wine glasses with my own money."
And according to Cllr Bisknell, "a complete error" occurred in November 2006, when the elected representative used expenses to purchase a Remembrance Day Wreath.
Mr Levitt said the claim had been made by mistake by a member of staff.
Cllr Bisknell said: "Some MPs acted foolishly. Other MPs can consider themselves hard done by. They've all been tarnished with one very sticky black tar brush.
"Tom made some silly mistakes."
"Most MPs are normal, ordinary people. They're not in it for money, they're not in it for gain. People have forgotten that, because of the way the expenses row has blown up."
Cllr Bisknell said there is a need for openness, honesty and transparency in order to regain trust with the electorate.
In December, High Peak Labour Party caused controversy after proposing an all-women shortlist, effectively banning male candidates from entering the selection process.
At the time, High Peak Labour Party's Constituency Chairman Alan Barrow said it was "an easy decision to reach" with "several examples of high performing women locally".
Cllr Bisknell said: "I wasn't involved in the debate around all-women shortlists. Had I been at the meeting, I might have voted against it. I've never been in favour of all-women shortlists — or any kind of shortlists — in the Labour Party."
Cllr Bisknell went on to say: "The Labour Party's always stood for the downtrodden. It's always looked to increase opportunities for people less able to look after themselves. Those are the kind of people who get squashed by the Tories. Look at Sure Start in Fairfield — that would never have happened under the Tories."
Praising the prime minister, Cllr Bisknell said: "Gordon Brown's pulled us out of recession. In High Peak unemployment's half what it was in 1992, in the days of Black Wednesday, when interest rates went through the roof."
Locally Cllr Bisknell said there needs to be more affordable housing across the High Peak.
Cllr Bisknell added: "There are a whole host of issues, some that can be tackled at national level, some that can be tackled at local level."
In 2003, Mr Levitt voted for military action against Iraq.
Since the conflict began, 140 British soldiers have been killed.
Even now there are concerns about the legality of the war, with many questioning the evidence about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein.
Cllr Bisknell said: "We shouldn't have gone into Iraq — we didn't have the evidence at the time. However, having said that, we did go in. We need to support our troops – both in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Cllr Bisknell's brother has completed several tours of duty in the war-torn country.
• Cllr Bisknell is Labour Group Leader at High Peak Borough Council. She represents the ward of Stone Bench in Buxton.Peak's first woman MP?
TOM Levitt has congratulated Councillor Bisknell, hoping for success at the ballot box in the forthcoming election.
Mr Levitt said: "This election is not over yet, by any means. Caitlin is well-known locally, and an experienced Labour Group Leader at High Peak Borough Council. She will be a good candidate, and will have the whole party behind her. I look forward to us working together from here to the election — and beyond. I wish her luck."
Mr Levitt said Cllr Bisknell would fight hard in the marginal seat which is likely to be a strong indicator of national trends at the election.
He added: "I look forward to seeing her elected as High Peak's first ever woman MP."
Cllr Bisknell said: "I am delighted to have been selected – it's a huge honour and privilege."
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Weather for Buxton
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
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