A Welsh born MP has joined his Conservative colleague Alan Duncan in making insensitive remarks on tape. Nigel Evans, who represents Ribble Valley was caught on camera complaining that he cannot live on his £64,766 a year salary and that he needs a second job in order to make ends meet.
The unguarded comments, which come in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal, were caught by the same video journalist who recorded shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan saying that MPs live on “rations” and were treated like “sh*t”.
Activist Heydon Prowse, of Don’t Panic magazine, captured the comments when secretly filming the pair in the House of Commons.
Ribble Valley Tory MP Mr Evans, who was born and raised in Swansea, still owns the family convenience store, Evans the News, in Townhill.
He was caught on tape saying that he had “to have a second income, mate, couldn’t survive on 64,” referring to his salary.
He also speaks of how he has been “trading down” his choice of drinks in the Palace of Westminster’s Strangers’ Bar in the wake of the expenses scandal.
He added: “This is what it’s come to now. Actually, I am paying, that’s what it’s come to.”
And referring to some sandwiches, he jokes: “I made these myself, it’s my second job.”
Mr Duncan has since issued an apology for his remarks, while a spokesman for Mr Evans, who has also faced criticism for claiming mobile phone expenses averaging £375 a month, said: “Nigel Evans takes his work in Westminster extremely seriously.
“His comments were at a time when he was relaxing with friends and being light-hearted in the Westminster bar.”
Judging by the comments on the website of the South Wales Evening Post, Mr. Evans’ former neighbours in Swansea do not see the funny side.
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i know heydon Prowse, he’s an A1 journo good for him catching these Tory silver spoon brigade. The idea that Nigel Evans cannot live on 64k a year is unbelievable to me. The public should realise that in voting the Tories in they are in fact going to be voting a group of select men who have little conception or understanding of most british peoples lives.