Calder Valley MP Mrs McCafferty has defended the payments, which ended last year.

She said: “MPs need help to do their work and I chose Tim as my consultant, which I am perfectly entitled to do. He was my agent, for which he did not get paid, he has helped to prepare my annual report, write Press releases, laid out leaflets and carried out research.

“I could have employed someone else but I wanted the best person for the job.”

Source: Halifax Courier (My highlighting)

A few unanswered questions here:

1. Was the consultancy post in lieu of being an unpaid election agent – if so, was it recorded in her election expenses?
2. Did Cllr. Swift register this work with the Register of Member’s Interests at Calderdale Council?
3. Did Cllr. Swift register with the inland revenue as a soletrader for tax purposes?
4. Was the leader of the Calderdale Labour group laying out leaflets, writing press releases and carrying out research from a political viewpoint (Labour) rather than a parliamentary (Chris McCafferty) viewpoint? Should this be paid for by the taxpayer?
5. Wouldn’t it be better for the public purse for Chris McCafferty to pay an intern or junior MP wannabe for doing this kind of work?
6. Doesn’t the leader of Labour Group on Calderdale have more pressing things to be doing than writing press releases for the local MP?

The Tories are famous in Calderdale for using Ashcroft monies (£25,000 in 2007) for political campaigning but at least it isn’t taxpayer’s money.