Nazi crack lands UK official in hot water
Source: Agencies |
November 3, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A BRITISH lawmaker was ordered to apologize yesterday after he compared the plight of legislators caught in a scandal over their expense claims to the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany.
David Wilshire, an opposition Conservative Party lawmaker who will not run in the next election following complaints about his use of public money, called a campaign to expose legislators' expense payments and allowances "a witch hunt."
In a letter to residents in his parliamentary district in Spelthorne, southern England, he wrote that "branding a whole group of people as undesirables led to Hitler's gas chambers."
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said Wilshire must retract the "unacceptable and offensive" comments and apologize.
"It's a frankly ludicrous thing to say and I think he should withdraw it," Cameron said in a statement.
Documents leaked to a newspaper earlier this year showed how lawmakers manipulated housing allowance rules and attempted to bill the public for items like porn movies and horse manure.
Campaigners had waged a five-year legal battle to have the documents released, despite fierce opposition from many lawmakers. The files were later made available to the public.
Wilshire was found to have used office expenses to pay 105,000 pounds (US$172,000) to a company that he owns jointly with his girlfriend.
The lawmaker has insisted he did not misuse public funds, but confirmed he will not contest his seat at the next national election.
David Wilshire, an opposition Conservative Party lawmaker who will not run in the next election following complaints about his use of public money, called a campaign to expose legislators' expense payments and allowances "a witch hunt."
In a letter to residents in his parliamentary district in Spelthorne, southern England, he wrote that "branding a whole group of people as undesirables led to Hitler's gas chambers."
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said Wilshire must retract the "unacceptable and offensive" comments and apologize.
"It's a frankly ludicrous thing to say and I think he should withdraw it," Cameron said in a statement.
Documents leaked to a newspaper earlier this year showed how lawmakers manipulated housing allowance rules and attempted to bill the public for items like porn movies and horse manure.
Campaigners had waged a five-year legal battle to have the documents released, despite fierce opposition from many lawmakers. The files were later made available to the public.
Wilshire was found to have used office expenses to pay 105,000 pounds (US$172,000) to a company that he owns jointly with his girlfriend.
The lawmaker has insisted he did not misuse public funds, but confirmed he will not contest his seat at the next national election.
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