Published: Thursday, 4th June, 2009 10:32am

Local MP spends £3000 on pictures of himself

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LIBDEM Parliamentary Candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale Catriona Bhatia has expressed concern and surprise at the revelation that current MP David Mundell has claimed £3000 of taxpayers" money for promotional photographs of himself.

Speaking today Ms Bhatia said: 'I am sure local residents were as surprised as I was to learn that our Member of Parliament had spent £3000 on photographs of himself.

"Though it is not the most bizarre expense claim we have heard about in the last few weeks, it does show a worrying disregard for taxpayers" money. If Mr Mundell feels the need to add to the over 700 photos on his website I would suggest he spends £50 of his own money on a digital camera."

She added: 'As a Liberal Democrat councillor my focus has always been about getting things done, and if I am fortunate enough to be elected as MP for DCT, I intend to let my record speak for itself, and promise I will not need a photographic record of my every action.'

The Tory MP said the pictures were used on his website, newspapers and other publications. He said the cost worked out at £65 a month over four years and that "unlike most MPs", he paid for his own website.

However Mr Mundell - Scotland's only Tory MP - has agreed to reimburse the cost of a picture for which he did not have copyright but was used in a parliamentary report through "simple error".