LibDem prospective candidates publish pledge on openness

1.13.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Sep 2009

"This is important to us" - Dr Judy and Stuart make clear their commitment to openness

Plymouth's Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidates Dr Judy Evans and Stuart Bonar today published a joint pledge on how open they would be if elected to Parliament.

In their five-point pledge they state:

• I would publish full details of my expenses every year on my website.

• As my constituency would be outside London, I would need accommodation near the House of Commons to do my job effectively. I would not make a personal profit from this accommodation, and I would only claim the expenses that any normal businessperson would claim when staying away from home on business.

• I would operate a constituency office for the benefit of my residents. I would publish the details of the cost of this office on my website every year.

• I would publish details of the staff that I employ in the constituency and in Westminster on my website, and I would explain the duties that they undertake.

• I would publish on my website full details of the salary I receive as an MP.

Reflecting the demands of her current medical practice and her desire to provide her patients with continuity of care, Dr Judy stated, "Additionally, I would establish my MP role as my main and only employment, never abandoning a current patient, and only undertake outside work with the permission of the LibDem party leader. Details of all such work would be recorded in the register of interests and published on my website."

Stuart said, "I would treat my MP role as my main and only employment and only undertake additional outside work with the permission of the party leader. Details of all such work would be recorded in the register of interests and published on my website."

He continued, "This is important to us. Britain is crying out for a fresh start, and we want to put on record now our commitment to openness. People want real change, and we are offering them that change."