Edinburgh labour MP starts the Cheating

The cheating has started in the general election in Edinburgh. Long time Labour MP and Minister Nigel Griffiths started putting his election placards up last night and the Edinburgh poll-tax payers have picked up the bill to take them down.

This morning, cleansing department workers were despatched throughout the city to take the illegal placards down. Todays print edition of the Evening News quotes the dodgy Mr. Griffiths saying "I am aware of the discussions.... The placards will be coming down faster than they were put up. The council are happy with this". Maybe the council are happy, are the taxpayers happy that they will be paying for this MP breaking the law.

Griffiths, you will remember, is the very same MP who back in 2001 faced mounting pressure to resign over reports that he claimed £40,000 in allowances to cover the cost of renting an office he already owns. Mr Griffiths bought his Edinburgh office in 1997 with money from a legacy and is said to have claimed up to £10,000 in rent allowance every year since then from the Commons authorities.

Come on Griffiths - Pay the council's costs for removing the illegal placards. You have been in politics for decades and you know the rules. Don't make the poor of Edinburgh pay for your cheating.