I'M pleased to tell Mike Ford that the answer to his question is simple and straightforward and I don't have anything to hide, certainly not a 'smoking gun'. However, the matter has formed part of my evidence to the District Auditor's inquiry so it's completely inappropriate to discuss it in public while that is going on.

Mr Ford will get his answer in due course and now I'll get on with working for almost 80,000 people across one of the larger constituencies in the country. I'm not sure my family would describe it as a 'cushy job' but hopefully those who are benefiting from Labour's local investment of millions in jobs, health, education, crime fighting, families and pensioners might regard it as a good one.

Hilton Dawson MP