Mr Alexander, the International Development Secretary and MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, paid £150 in 2004 for an advertisement at Johnstone Burgh FC, who play in the Scottish Junior Football West Division One.
On the day Labour launches its big attack on government expenses and taxpayer waste, former cabinet minister Douglas Alexander is busy celebrating his return as a Labour candidate for East Lothian at the next general election. Following his selection last night, Alexander claimed he’s “humbled and delighted” to be standing, and is promising to “get down to some serious work to ensure a Labour victory“. This is, of course, the same Douglas Alexander who spent over £30,000 on expenses renovating his constituency home, and paid back £12,600 over the renting out of a “building next to his flat” between 2001 and 2005…
At the time, his spokesperson said he repaid this only “for the avoidance of doubt“, and denied any wrongdoing. Among the expensed items he claimed for his second home were a CD player, bed sheets, and new garage doors. All apparently essential for his work as an MP, and so at the gift of the taxpayer. The timing of the announcement of his return today will not please the Labour press office…
UPDATE: From the archives we’ve pulled out some more examples of Douglas Alexander’s carelessness with taxpayer funds:
• He claimed £2,000 for household items lost in a fire after he declared that he was “under-insured”. He ended up repaying the £2,000.
• He spent taxpayers’ money on advertising himself at football and rugby league matches. According to the Telegraph he took advertisements on pitch-side hoardings and in match programmes:
Mr Alexander, the International Development Secretary and MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, paid £150 in 2004 for an advertisement at Johnstone Burgh FC, who play in the Scottish Junior Football West Division One.
In March 2006, the club wrote to him saying: “Payment is now due for your advertising board sited at Keanie Park for season 2005/06 at the agreed donation of £200.” He opted to advertise for another year, and charged the taxpayer.
Adverts that should have been paid for out of Labour Party funds instead were charged to the taxpayer…
