Trouble for Mr Dowd on expenses?

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 21st Sep 2008

Reports are emerging from residents of Penge that they have received a new publication recently from a politician aspiring to represent them in parliament. The 4-page document, entitled 'Parliamentary Report', includes lots of colour photos and clearly has been designed and printed at great cost.

Great cost, that is, to the public purse, as the aspirant is none other than Lewisham West MP Jim Dowd, who's own constituents will be surprised to learn that he has spent his parliamentary allowances on communicating with residents in Penge, which is next-door Beckenham constituency, and who are currently represented by Jacqui Lait MP.

The fact that Penge will be part of the new Lewisham West & Penge constituency at the next General Election, and that Mr Dowd expects to be the Labour candidate for that seat, is likely to be coincidental. However, some of the Penge residents are less than happy by this misuse of public funds and have, apparently, reported the matter to the relevant authorities.