The following correspondence has come my way…it shows the new foreign office minister charged with looking after Latin America, reaching out to Latin American interests in the UK.
I’m wondering how many other ministers, opposition front benchers and MPs are in receipt of such anger from voters?
Subject: Invitation to reception for new FCO Minister, 7 July 2009
Dear Andrew,
I am writing to introduce myself as the new Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
I am delighted to have been appointed to this position. I have a strong interest in the region, having spent a year of my life living there.
I attach great importance to deepening the relationship between the UK and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In a more globalised world, such ties will become ever more important – as barriers to trade, cultural
engagement and scientific co-operation become easier to overcome.
I also believe that the UK, together with our EU partners, must work closely with the region to tackle some of the most serious global problems facing us today – such as climate change, economic development, and reform of international institutions.
Chris Bryant
Chris Bryant M.P.
Minister for Latin America
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
London
The response was not quite so cordial…
Dear Sir,
Why would I want to accept the invitation to meet you?
In all, you split more than £92,000 of expenses between three properties in Wales and London in the past five years.
In 2004, you submitted a claim of £58,000 – three times the maximum allowance for the year – to overhaul your second home in Porth, Wales.
You wanted the money for renovations after buying the property for £97,500.
In April 2005, you flipped your designation to your flat in west London, which you bought
for £400,000 in April 2002.
You claimed £630 a month for mortgage interest, along with other bills.
After claiming more than £3,600 over three months, you sold the flat in July 2005 for £477,000.
You then used your profits to buy a more expensive flat in west London, which was valued at £670,000.
You immediately flipped your second home designation there. You even claimed nearly £6,400 in stamp duty, legal fees and mortgage fees (!).
You then began claiming mortgage interest of £1,000 a month.
You also claimed £6,000 a year for service charge and ground rent.
In response to the press revelations of your abuse of expenses, you said “I moved flat in London to
be closer to Parliament”(!).
It is a disgrace that you have been appointed to represent my country in Latin America.
Voy a informar a todos mis contactos de prensa en la región para que sepan.
Andrew Nickson
Reader in Latin American Studies
University of Birmingham
I am told that “Voy a informar a todos mis contactos de prensa en la región para que sepan” means that Prof Nickson intends to tell all his press contacts in the region on Mr Bryant’s expenses claims. News travels fast…
Commentsoldest first
News does indeed traveel fast but, more importantly, people remember.
It’s a delight to read such
correspondence, if it’s genuine!
It just shows what damage these bast…ds are doing to the UK.
Well done that man.
One can only hope that all Bryant’s unfortunate constituents get to see this exchange and that they send him to a well-deserved oblivion at the next General Election
I wish more people could be that brave! Thanks for sharing it.
What can I say? Brillant! Just brilliant!
That is so funny. It has come back to bite him. I hope the voters don’t have short memories when its election time.
They still believe that they will get away with all this. But for responses such as this one, they might.
Excellent and appropriate.
Great! Mr Nickson!.
It’s good to know that there may be people out there who care about it.
To be honest the corruption is wider than we all know and expence FIDDLES are more rife in the NHS than Government.
C DACK
Kudos to Nickson for standing up for the UK!!! It’s a shock the amount of claims Mr Bryant has placed. Mr Nickson, maybe you should take up the position…
Andrew, I really appreciate that candid reply. Ppeople despite having information do not take the courage to answer like this? I am proud of you! This should be a lesson to the teachers of my country……….Manju from Nepal!
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