Controversal MP Shahid Malik has today attacked the Sunlight Centre for what he saw as a politically motivated complaint against him put in to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

In response Harry Cole from the Sunlight Centre said:

“For Mr Malik to suggest that the complaint by the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics was politically motivated shows, even now, how out of touch he is with public outrage concerning the expenses crisis. He should also await the publication of John Lyon’s full report before declaring himself a saint. As the length and depth of John Lyon’s investigation shows there was serious concern surrounding Mr Malik’s office arrangements that took nearly a year to unravel. We are disappointed if, once again, John Lyon has been forced to clear an MP who while working “within the rules” has got away with practices that would be wholly inappropriate in any other profession. The Sunlight Centre has argued that it’s not just trust in politics that is broken, but the rules of the game too.”

The Sunlight Centre has spoken to the Dewsbury Reporter and our letter is due to be published on Friday 26th June 2009 in response to Mr Malik’s letter.

Shahid Malik Letter to Dewsbury Reporter

In a letter to John Lyon the Commissioner, the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics stated that despite being cleared of breaching the Ministerial Code by Sir Philip Mawer, it has subsequently emerged that Mr Malik is unable to provide any receipts or a written rental agreement to support his claims for the rent claimed on his constituency home.

That alone is enough to warrant an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commission, however, allegations of further expenses controversies on the part of Mr Malik have now come to light.

While claiming for the full allowance for a London home, which we accept was within the rules, the question must be addressed of whether Mr Malik was misusing his office allowances in order to subsidise his constituency home, which would explain the below market rate rent for his home.

As reported this morning this morning, Mr Malik is alleged to be claiming office expenses for his constituency property and and a thorough investigation is required to make sure this is a legitimate use of public money.

Harry Cole from the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics said;

” ‘The Green Book’ rules for MPs’ expenses that were in place when these claims were made, stated: “You must ensure that arrangements for your office and surgery premises are above reproach and that there can be no grounds for a suggestion of misuse of public money.” (5.12.1) In our view Mr Malik’s arrangements were clearly not “above reproach” and there is prima facie evidence to suggest there has been “misuse of public money”.”