Commons envelopes misused by MP

Rules govern MPs' use of Commons' stationery

A Labour MP has agreed to pay back hundreds of pounds for misusing House of Commons postage-paid envelopes.

The move follows Conservative allegations that Tom Levitt broke parliamentary rules by using the stationery to send party political material to first-time voters in his constituency in Derbyshire.

I have not broken any rules and I have not been ticked off

Tom Levitt

Mr Levitt, who sits on the Commons committee that monitors MPs' conduct, is insisting that he has done nothing wrong.

"I have not broken any rules and I have not been ticked off," he said.

Mr Levitt has had a meeting with the Sergeant At Arms, the most senior official in the Commons, who is responsible for making sure its headed stationery is not misused.

A spokesman said: "Mr Levitt agreed that there was an error. These envelopes cannot be used for circulars.

"This happens all the time across all the parties. This case seems to have occured inadvertently through the actions of an over-enthusiastic helper."

First-time voters

Mr Levitt had employed a practise used by many MPs - making contact with constituents who will be eligible to vote for the first time in the coming general election.

They were invited to give their views on a range of issues using a pre-paid envelope.

Tom Levitt: denies wrongdoing

Mr Levitt said: "I had always intended to pay for this from my office cost allowance and this is what I shall do.

"The person who complained appears not to be aware that the rules were changed several months ago to allow this sort of activity."

But the Conservative MP, Christopher Chope, who had drawn the matter to the attention of the Sergeant At Arms said he was "disappointed" that Mr Levitt was refusing to admit any wrongdoing.

"It is clear that he should not have used House of Commons postage-paid envelopes and I shall now be seeking written clarification from the Sergeant At Arms," he said.