Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant's husband resigns over staff contracts
by Angela Cole
The husband of Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant has
resigned from her staff after putting her in an "embarrassing
position", it has emerged.
Simon Grant had been working as senior advisor to his wife, but
quit three weeks ago after admitting he had altered her staff's
sick pay entitlements on their contracts.
The admission only came to light after Mrs Grant's constituency
assistant Tony Williams, from Penenden Heath, spoke out after
finding his contract had been changed from the standard 26 weeks to
just a fortnight.
In a statement two weeks ago, Mrs Grant's office said the change
to the entitlement had been made to save taxpayers' money and that
they had been in line with the sick pay given to her law firm
staff.
After Mr Williams, who took sick leave in August after suffering
a heart attack,
raised the issue with IPSA, the parliamentary regulatory body, they
immediately asked for it to be changed to be in line with all
government standard contracts.
But now Mr Grant has admitted it was he who had made
the change - unbeknown to his wife - and had resigned as a
result.
He had told Mrs Grant about the changes in early November. His
own contract had not been altered.
Mr Grant said: "Failing to tell my wife about the discrepancy
when it was discovered in August was an error of judgement which
has put her in an embarrassing position through no fault of her
own.
"I have gained nothing from the discrepancy itself which was a
genuine oversight."
The revelation comes after Mrs Grant came
under fire for claiming the £20,000 expenses for a second home
despite living just 19 miles from the House of Commons.
29/11/12
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