The Conservatives are splattering the Hertfordshire towns and countryside with "Vote for Change" posters. If you vote for Oliver Heald (the incumbent MP) are you getting change?

Mr Heald has shown that he does not put the "public interest" above his own and that he is representative and emblematic of the old, discredited, Parliament - the one we want to see the back of.

After having waited for just a little time (almost 5 months in fact) for answers to questions from Mr Heald related to the use, by two of his adult children, of his tax-payer funded London flat (a flat he only partially owns yet claims for in full), I feel justified in filling the void now with a little speculation and conjecture. After all, I have written to Mr Heald on three occasions now and provided ample opportunity for him to simply put the record straight on the use of, and ownership of, his London flat - a flat funded by me and you as tax payers.

Mr Oliver Heald MP has allowed two of his adult children to use a tax-payer-funded flat in London that he appears to only partially own yet claims for in full.

Most of my questions that remain unanswered were first put to Mr Heald MP back in December 2009. I have waited a further 4 weeks for answers since my last email/letter. I feel this is a more than adequate time-scale within which to expect a reply.

We must have all been pretty disgusted by the spectacle of former ministers - Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon (all current MPs) touting for business - as seen on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme this week. But, were we surprised? Probably not.

After all that we have witnessed in this past year - we know that many MPs have a limited grasp on the concept of "public service" and the "public interest" and how these old-fashioned (as it seems) notions - at the heart of their own code of conduct - should trump personal interest every time.

Update: I have not received a reply from Mr Heald MP to my letter/email of Jan 8th. I think almost two months is a reasonable time to wait and I find it hard to understand Mr Heald's reluctance to reply, unless, he has something to hide in relation his tax-payer funded flat being used by his kids and the basic ownership information (see here: blog post with previous letter).

Oliver Heald MP has failed to address my simple, but, important questions in relation to the use of a tax-payer funded flat by two of his adult chidren. Please see my post "Oliver Heald - A Roof Over Their Heads - For The Kids - And The Car" for the questions put to Mr Heald on this matter by me - a constituent and tax payer - on 10th Dec 2009.

His response is shown below here: See blue box near bottom of this blog entry. As you can see Mr Heald has not answered questions on:

The published, public record at Parliament's own website of Mr Heald MP's most recent expenses - appears to have had a hand-written note expunged since publication on Thu 10/12/09. This note stated that his two bedroom tax-payer funded flat in London was being shared with two of his children.

Where has that note gone? Please see my letter to my MP - Oliver Heald (quoted in my previous blog post here) - asking some straight-forward and reasonable questions about the use of his tax-payer funded flat by two of his children.

This is a copy of the letter I have sent to my MP, Oliver Heald, after having looked at his most recently published expenses - available here: http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allo...

If you feel he has case to answer and he is your MP also - please write to him. If your own MP has questionable claims this time - please make them answer for them.

Dear Mr Heald MP

My MP Mr Oliver Heald's "petty cash" double claims make it into The Guardian. It looks like they have contacted the Commons Department of Resources and been told this is "within the rules". Well, what a surprise. That attitude by the MP and the Commons Department of Resources simply underlines the appearance that these allowances were treated like an entitlement not an allowance to cover costs incurred.

Mr Heald mentioned nearer bottom of article.

MPs' expenses: Civil servant sacked for calling Hazel Blears a 'disgrace' in anonymous internet post - A civil servant has been sacked after she criticised Hazel Blears the former Cabinet minister over her behaviour in the MPs' expenses scandal. [Telegraph latest MPs expenses]