Cash survives in members' ballot

BILL Cash's position as MP for the Stone constituency is safe for now after he survived a secret ballot of his association members.

Members of Stone Constituency Conservative Association held a behind-closed-doors vote of confidence on the politician during a meeting at Alleyne's High School last night.

News of the ballot was leaked after a letter was sent out by chairman John Prendergast to association members.

It was believed that calls for a secret ballot were made by executive members of the association at a private meeting at Stone Golf Club last Thursday.

More than 150 members turned up to the meeting to listen to Mr Cash talk about parliamentary affairs before the ballot took place.

He was thrust into the spotlight last month after it emerged that he claimed £15,000 for rent paid to his daughter for staying at her London flat, despite himself owning an apartment closer to Westminster.

The MP has since agreed to pay it back and has been exonerated by the Conservatives' Scrutiny Panel of any wrongdoing.

The exact result of last night's ballot was not revealed, but after the meeting Mr Cash told The Sentinel that he was 'absolutely delighted' by the members' support.

He said: "It was totally overwhelming. Now we can move forward to the next election and winning a great victory with David Cameron in Number 10 Downing Street.

"Mr Cameron wrote a letter to me giving me his full support and I have already been exonerated by the Scrutiny Panel."

After the meeting, one association member, who didn't wish to be named, said: "If we don't support him I don't know what the alternative would be. Maybe it's a case of better the devil you know than the one you don't."

Another member said: "When you analyse it, I don't think he's done anything wrong. The Daily Telegraph made a mistake and it's all been a bit of a witch hunt."

But Independent Stone town councillor Ray Wood said he was 'very disappointed' with Mr Cash.

He added: "I'm disappointed with him as a man and as an MP. Someone of his wealth claiming for what he had – it's just pure greed. Whether he was within the rules or not, what he did was morally wrong.

"One month he claimed £738 for a phone bill. I can't imagine how anyone could spend that amount in a month.

"I feel personally let down by him and I think he will be susceptible to being ousted at the next election."

Staffordshire Moorlands district councillor for Cheadle Stephen Ellis, a Conservative, said: "It was an overwhelmingly positive endorsement from association members.

"They were full of praise for the work Mr Cash has done. Nobody said anything negative throughout."

Mr Cash has also handed back £35 that he claimed to cover a payment to the Royal British Legion, saying the claim had been made by mistake after the invoice for a payment to The Poppy Appeal got mixed up with other receipts.

Other expenses claimed included a £961 sofa bed, £297 speaker system and £19.99 for a steam iron.