Parliamentary Service has confirmed that one allegation raised by disgruntled Labour MP Gaurav Sharma – misspending of taxpayers money – was normal practice and within the rules.
The allegation, made by Hamilton West MP Sharma in a social media post, claimed that “in August 2021 I found that a Member of Parliament of the Labour Party and a Parliamentary staff member (also a Labour Member) were misusing taxpayer’s money.”
The issue was one of many raised in an extraordinary social media post made by rookie MP Sharma on Friday night which included claims of bullying by Labour whips and Parliamentary Service. He has, so far, not produced any evidence to back up his claims.
Chief executive of Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said that the issue was raised with the service last year, but was within the rules.
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“It related to a Wellington-based staff member travelling to a member’s electorate office for the purpose of team building and assisting the wider team. This is normal practice for many members when establishing a new team which has staff dispersed in different regions,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
“The Service determined that this expenditure was for parliamentary business and so allowed by the Speaker’s Directions, which are the rules that guide expenditure by members,” he said.
Travel for Parliamentary staff is a normal part of working for an MP.
Stuff
Gaurav Sharma.
Sharma also received a letter in support of him, which was sent to various media and apparently signed by 20 local members of the Hamilton West branch of the Labour Party. It is understood that the membership of the branch is significantly higher than 20 people.
The letter, which bears 20 signatures but which was not signed by a party member in particular, called for an in-depth inquiry into the issue raised by Sharma.
“Given the serious concerns he has been raising for a long time we hope that the Parliamentary Services, Labour Party Caucus and the Labour Party political wing will look into an independent and in-depth inquiry into his claims and give him a fair trial that he deserves.” it said.
Labour Party general secretary Rob Salmond declined to the comment on the issue.
Sharma has not been allowed to hire more staff following issues between him and his staff a year ago, according to a statement by Labour Party Whip Duncan Webb. When asked about allegations of bullying in his office by a former staff member after an electorate clinic late on Friday night, Sharma cut questions short.
“I don’t have time to read. I’ve been so busy. Thank you so much,” he said.
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF/Waikato Times
Sharma during his clinic session at Anglesea Pharmacy in Hamilton on Friday evening.
The Prime Minister is expected to speak about the issue at her post-Cabinet Press conference at 3pm on Monday afternoon, which could include any next steps that the Labour Party might take in relations to Sharma’s claims.
Sharma claimed on Friday that the reason he went public with his concerns were that the Labour whips called a meeting “at a time and place of their choosing”.
He said that they “continued to laugh on [sic] my face saying in front of my lawyer ‘how will you even sue us, you have no legal rights’ while repeatedly refusing to investigate anything I have said or investigate me for any issue.” in his social media post.
A Labour spokesperson reiterated that the party disputes Sharma’s allegation.
“As previously stated there have been ongoing issues between Gaurav and some of his staff that his Facebook post provides further confirmation of,” a party spokesperson said in a statement.
Parliamentary Service says Gaurav Sharma’s claim of staff ‘misusing’ taxpayer money was staff travel and ‘normal practice’ & Latest News Update
Parliamentary Service says Gaurav Sharma’s claim of staff ‘misusing’ taxpayer money was staff travel and ‘normal practice’ & More Live News
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