Splashing the cash
Lib Dems threw more money than their combined opponents put together in a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to gain hold of the Swansea West constituency in May’s general election.
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According to figures issued by the Electoral Commission (also to be found on the excellent National Left blogsite) Swansea’s Lib Dems blew £22,701.65 on trying to persuade voters to elect Peter May as their new MP. The other eight candidates spent £19,291.21 between them. Next biggest spenders were Labour at £15,119.86 and who retained the seat against expectations. By comparison, Lib Dem Rob Speht declared a mere £1,520.93 for his fight to contest neighbouring Swansea East whilst Mike Day recorded election expenses of £1,169.31 in Gower. A breakdown of declared Lib Dem election costs in their target seat of Swansea West reveals that nearly £7,500 went on payments for "agent, staff and accommodation expenses". This figure is likely to prompt renewed questions by other parties about the role played by Peter Black’s city-based constituency office during the election. We hear there is already some minor speculation as to why Rob Speht, Peter May and the Lib Dems now quote their official address for next year's Assembly elections as a property in the Blackpill area of Swansea and which changed hands for £550,000 in August this year.
3 Comments:
Are you suggesting a spot of creative accountancy on the part of Swansea's finest?
I am not sure what you are implying regarding my office but I can assure you that it played no part in the General Election campaign. You will recall that the Peter May campaign had its own office in Walter Road and employed an organiser for the duration. I worked very hard on the campaign but I did that on my own time.
Money well spent too.
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