Former Labour MP, Laura Pidcock, Fined Thousands Over ‘Political-Party Letters

Laura Pidcock the former Labour MP for North West Durham - who lost her seat in the general election - has been ordered to pay £3,835.32 by the Parliament's Commissioner for Standards. The Commons standard watchdog accused Ms. Pidcock of using taxpayer-funded stationery to launch what they described as a political party campaign.


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WESTMINISTER - Back in September 2019, Pidcock sent out more than 5,000 letters to elderly constituents warning them of changes made to TV licence laws for over 75s. The Commissioners said, her “original intention was to raise awareness around changes to rules for over-75s TV licenses,” but after making altercations to a template drafted by parliament made it “party-political in tone and content, and no longer neutral or objective.”

The letter in question stated, "This Tory Government has overseen the scrapping of free TV licences for the over-75s, despite their manifesto commitment to maintain free TV licences for over-75s and has delivered yet another welfare cut to some of the most vulnerable in our society. This is a betrayal of older citizens, who deserve dignity in retirement and reward for their hard work."

The investigation was launched following a complaint made by a member of her constituency. 

The Parliamentary Commissioner, Kathryn Stone, said, "As a political campaigner, I completely understand the desire of the MP for North West Durham to campaign on this issue, inform residents and work to oppose the measure...However, this campaign activity is not something that should be funded by the taxpayer."

Stone added that the “timing, tone, and content of the letter” made it inadmissible. 

In a statement released by the Commissioner, the 32-year-old former MP swiftly apologised for her “honest mistake” and agreed to pay back the money spent on postage and stationery. 

"I am sorry if the way in which I communicated this was not allowed under the rules and I will accept your ruling and will also pay back the House for the resources used for this communication," she said.”

Under the new government scheme, over 3.7m people over 75 will have their TV licence scrapped as of August 2020. 

Ms. Pidcock also released a brief statement via her Twitter page detailing the course of the investigation, before as she claims, “the usual suspects make mischief with” it.  

(Written by Klaudia Fior)

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