THE MP for Chard and Ilminster has responded to his second expenses controversies in a week.

Marcus Fysh has spoken out after it was also revealed he had claimed for Amazon Prime on his expenses, while Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they handed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service over 2015 general election expenses.

Cllr Fysh said: “MPs' expenses which are granted by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for the running of offices and operations in two locations have been a hot topic in recent years.

"Mine have been correct and proper despite some trying to cast aspersions, and I try to operate efficiently.

"My office has been using Amazon and its Prime service with a Government card to get fast and cheap delivery of various items for it.

"As a busy MP and father of two young children I certainly have no time for any TV streaming services that recently appear to have been bundled with the free delivery service.

"Amazon shouldn't have charged for the Prime delivery service that was used though, because I was part of the original beta trial for Prime back in around 2004. I have had it without paying ever since because getting delivery free forever under Prime was the deal with that.

"I have now got a refund directly onto the Government card which they erroneously charged. 

"So the net result is that my office has had some numerous and bulky items delivered for free, without the taxpayer having to pay anything for Amazon Prime."

Cllr Fysh also responded to the police’s expenses investigation, which follows the controversial use of ‘Battle Buses’ while campaigning in 2015.

Two other MPs have said they have faced police questioning over the scandal.

He added: “The Electoral Commission’s investigation was into the Conservative Party nationally rather than into any particular constituency visited by the Battle Bus.

"We understand that the party complied fully with the investigation and, like the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties who have also been investigated and fined by the Electoral Commission, the Party will pay the fines imposed.

"There is, however, a further ongoing police investigation and as such we'd prefer not to comment other than to say we've done nothing wrong and acted honestly and properly throughout our campaigns."

The Tories have been fined £70,000 for inaccurately reporting election expenses.


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