Fighting talk from Tory MP James Gray, beaten up in the Mirror and his local paper following Guido’s investigation into his expenses yesterday. Gray has given a denial to another more friendly local outlet which, shockingly, is riddled with untruths. Regarding his publicly-disclosed office at his local Conservative Association, Gray claims:

“I am a local MP and I am part of the local Conservative Party, but in terms of my office it’s not there at all. That’s something I did many years ago. I gave up using the Conservative Party offices and thought it would be better to hire a local office which was totally approved by the authorities. He seems to think I have two offices, which I don’t.”

This is untrue; Gray does have two offices. IPSA have confirmed to Guido that his second Conservative Association office is the only office address and telephone number in the public domain. They say the address and telephone number of his real office – the one he claims for – is kept secret for his own security. Gray’s Association told Guido that he couldn’t contact the real office directly and that he would have to go through them. He says he does not have two offices – he patently does – three if you include his Westminster office.

“It’s a snide instigation that I have a special relationship with the Fuller family. First of all they haven’t made any donations.”

This is untrue. Electoral Commission records show that Fuller, his family and companies have made a grand total of ten donations to Gray and the Tories, totalling over £20,000.

“The only thing I can track down is 13 or 14 years ago when the current landlord’s grandmother donated to my party.”

Electoral Commission records show that this donation was received just over 6 years ago…