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davieG

Keith Vaz

By davieG, in General Chat

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Reynard Bleu

Reynard Bleu

Posted
Posted

I have litle time for mr vaz, he is a self centred individual who may well do much for his constituents but his primary objective seems to be his self promotion. having said that, you have to say that the MP (Bridgen)who has raised this matter can have only one objective and that's to undermine and damage Mr Vaz personally, nothing to do with political agenda's or proberty, its a personal attack on a fellow MP. Just another example of odious behaviour in our palace of law making.

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davieG

davieG

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Have we another potential corrupt politician of the Blue variety this time?

Merc

A councillor has been suspended by the Conservative party after being charged with benefit fraud.

Councillor Chris Boothby is due to appear in court tomorrow accused of claiming Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) while, it is alleged, he was a bus driver for Leicester City Council.




  • ​4183075.jpg
    Councillor Chris Boothby

Councillor Boothby, who has represented Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council since 2003, told the Mercury that he would clear his name in court.

He is said to have claimed £949.14 to which he was not entitled in JSA payments, as well as £560 in housing benefit.

It is alleged Coun Boothby, from Ratby, was also claiming unemployment benefit for his wife Tina, while she was working in a pub.

The Department of Work and Pensions launched an investigation into Coun Boothby after receiving a tip-off.

It has not said when the alleged offence took place but said Coun Boothby started claiming in December 2010.

In a statement, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said: "Christopher Boothby claimed Job Seekers Allowance for himself and his wife on the grounds that he was unemployed.

"Information received by the DWP indicated that Mr Boothby had been working part-time as a bus driver for Leicester City Council and his wife was working at the Plough Inn, Markfield."

A DWP spokeswoman said: "Somebody can claim JSA for another person, say a relative, and they may have no knowledge of that.

"We would look at the circumstances and decide who would be prosecuted. It is usually the person in whose name the claim is made."

Coun Boothby told the Mercury he did not expect to be able to attend court as he was due in hospital. He said: “There’s due process to be followed and I look forward to clearing my name in court.”

However, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Conservative Group leader councillor Paul Bessant said he had been informed Coun Boothby was unwell.

Coun Bessant said Coun Boothby personally told him about the upcoming court case on September 14 and the decision was taken to suspend him from the Tory group.

Coun Bessant said: "There is a protocol, for every Conservative councillor, that says when they are charged with an offence they are automatically suspended.

"Coun Boothby has been suspended from the group and having the whip removed means any guidance he may have had from the group is no longer available to him.

"We have to remember that in this country you are innocent until you are proven guilty."

He said the suspension would last until the case concluded.

Coun Boothby said: "There's due process to be followed and I look forward to clearing my name in court."

A borough council spokeswoman said: "The council will review the situation following the court hearing.

"The council has a zero-tolerance approach to benefit fraud and will take appropriate action wherever fraud is detected to safeguard taxpayers' money."

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Guest MattP

Guest MattP

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Posted (edited)

Have we another potential corrupt politician of the Blue variety this time?

Merc

If that doesn't prove the Tories have changed nothing will.

15 years ago a Conservative wouldn't have walked within 20 yards of a job centre, let alone sit in there in his own time to claim off it.

Edited by MattP
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  • 3 years later...
davieG

davieG

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Keith Vaz accused of Coca-Cola truck hypocrisy after opening Melton Road sweet shop

By danjmartin  |  Posted: November 06, 2015

11322074-large.jpg
 

The article on Mr Vaz's website

 
 Comments (9)

 

Keith Vaz has come under fire for objecting to the Coca-Cola truck visiting Leicester after it emerged he opened a sweet shop in his own constituency.

Mr Vaz raised concern about the big red corporate truck coming to the Highcross shopping centre on December 17 as part of a nationwide pre-Christmas tour.

He said he was worried the sugary drink would be handed out to youngsters during the visit at a time when the city has problems with obesity.

 

However the Labour Leicester East MP's own website carries a story from April 2013 about him opening the Sweetilicious shop on Melton Road along with him cutting a ribbon at the entrance with a child.

The website article said: "Keith has opened a new sweet shop on the busy Melton Road in Leicester.

"Sweetilicious has sweets and chocolates from all over the world catering for vegetarians and some sugar free. The shope (sic) has brightly coloured decor and tailored seating for young children.

Of the opening, Keith said: "It will be a trip down memory lane with shelves filled with brightly coloured jars of sweets from all over the world.

"The only problem will be wondering what to choose from the amazing range of sweets.

I have a sweet tooth, so I will have to be very careful and not over indulge."

The website article has been shared on social media.

Tory city councillor Ross Grant said: "I think this does put him into the hypocrite category.

"He has himself done exactly what he is condemning Coca-Cola of doing, and he has done it on his own website.

"This highlights how opportunistic he has been over the Christmas lorry."

The Mercury has asked Mr Vaz to comment.

He has yet to respond.

The MP, a type two diabetic and founder of the Silver Star diabetes charity, does have got a long-track record in campaigning against excessive sugar in food and drink.

He has made calls in Parliament for clearer food labelling to display sugar contents and has pressed for sugary drinks to be banned from schools.

He has also urged Coca-Cola to reinvest some of its profits in diabetes research and begged sports stars like Maria Sharapova to stop promoting unhealthy foods.

Of the Coca-Cola truck visit Mr Vaz had said: "The Coca Cola truck is not welcome in Leicester, and this national tour to promote sugar-laden drinks is ill-judged and unwise at a time of record diabetes and obesity levels.

"Coca Cola have said the truck will not be giving their products to younger children, but this is clearly unenforceable.

"This tour is not the 'real thing' it is the wrong thing."

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said: "The Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour provides a moment of fun for the family in the build-up to Christmas and we've had a positive response from many people in Leicester to the news that it will stop there this year."

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Keith-Vaz-accused-Coca-Cola-truck-hypocrisy/story-28126588-detail/story.html#ixzz3qiwdNKtE 

Follow us: @@leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook

 

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Finnaldo

Finnaldo

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Posted

lol  It's actually horrific how so many Leicestershire MPs are total out of touch, on both sides of the political spectrum.

 

David 'Star Reader' Tredinnick and Keith fvcking Vaz the stand-out performers.

 

I'm surprised Leicestershire hasn't just been reclaimed by Earth and sunk into the ground for our god-awful political choices.

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