The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has found that a UK cabinet minister used taxpayer-funded resources to create “overtly political” material for the Conservative party. Pensions Minister Paul Maynard, who represents Blackpool North and Cleveleys, used a printer supplied by Ipsa for constituency work to produce campaign material. Maynard has repaid £1,367, following Ipsa’s ruling, which praised him for quickly taking corrective action. Ipsa concluded that Maynard was in breach of expenses rules.
The watchdog also found that Maynard had under-reported use of his constituency office by his local Conservative association to Ipsa, but considered his “higher than average” claim of £106,000 for printing and related expenditure since 2010 to be legitimate. Ipsa’s report stated that a “comprehensive audit” was impossible due to “resource constraints”. Maynard is otherwise cleared of wrongdoing.
Ipsa stated: “The MP reasonably believed he had put in place an agreement with Ipsa to allow for the occasional use of his constituency office for non-parliamentary purposes and made regular payments to Ipsa for this purpose.” However, the compliance officer for Ipsa felt that the use of the office printer went beyond this agreement, partly as the extended use was covered by local Conservative associations.
Maynard has agreed to abandon the allegedly inappropriate arrangement. The Conservative party has not yet responded to the report. Labour representatives have called for Maynard’s removal as a minister, with party chair Anneliese Dodds calling for wider changes
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