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Cllr's husband's letter defence Cllr's husband's letter defence
(about 7 hours later)
A husband has defended his councillor wife in 5,000 letters delivered to her constituents after "very personal attacks" were made against her. A husband has defended his councillor wife in 5,000 letters delivered to her constituents after rivals called on her to return allowances paid unlawfully.
Martin Holland copied his hand-written emotional response after comments were made about his wife Clarissa in a Liberal Democrat newsletter. Martin Holland delivered a hand-written reply to a Cardiff Lib Dem newsletter which names his wife Clarissa as one of the Labour members paid "unreasonably".
It followed claims by the Lib Dems in Cardiff that Labour councillors were paid "unlawfully" when in charge. The district auditor criticised the previous Labour administration over £152,752 in "unreasonable" allowances.
He said he wrote "from the heart" after a "smear" on "a dedicated councillor." Mr Holland said his wife was "dedicated" and "deserves better".
In his letter to residents of Splott, Tremorfa and Pengam Green, Mr Holland said he "wanted to set the record straight" after the Lib Dem Focus newsletter called for Labour councillors to repay allowances which it said were claimed "unreasonably". The row stems from an Wales Audit Office report in April 2006 which concluded Cardiff council had unlawfully spent £2.7m in allowances between 1996 and 2001, when it was run by Labour.
He said his wife was "proud to represent the area where she had lived all her life" and had served as a councillor for almost 20 years. The district auditor criticised the administration for linking allowances to officers' salaries and described £152,752 of the allowances as "unreasonable".
'Muck-raking' In July 2006, a cross-party committee set up by the council, by then run by the Liberal Democrats, decided not to proceed with recovering the money. Clarissa and Martin Holland have been married for 30 years
He wrote: "Anyone who knows Clarissa will also know the hours she puts in for local people. The councillors who received the allowances argued they acted in good faith and were not told to decline the money at the time.
"She won't thank me for saying so, but she selflessly gives many hours to running groups like the Sunday Luncheon Club and the Tremorfa Hall coffee morning. But the Lib Dem newsletter for Splott, Tremorfa and Pengam Green called on Labour to "ditch those councillors that don't repay this money as candidates" in May's council elections.
"She also donates both time and money to many other local initiatives and events, which she has never made public." It names Mrs Holland as one of 34 current and former authority members who were paid "unlawfully" and "unreasonably".
He added: "I know she doesn't do what she does for praise or pats on the back." He said she deserved better. In his letter to residents, Mr Holland, who is a former Labour councillor and is a party campaigner, said he "wanted to set the record straight".
"They have smeared the name of a dedicated councillor, loving wife and brilliant mother." He described his wife as "proud to represent the area where she had lived all her life" and had served as a councillor for almost 20 years.
The letter marked 'personal message' began with 'Dear Friend' He said: "I did not want it to be political as such. I wanted it to be from myself. I just wish I had written a lot more.
Mr Holland, a printer, said he and his friends delivered the letter, photocopied on blue A4 paper, and that he had never taken such action before. 'Inaccuracies'
"I did not want it to be political as such. I wanted it to be from myself. I just wish I had written a lot more," he said.
"It was from me. From the heart. I know her, I love her and what they're doing is really upsetting.""It was from me. From the heart. I know her, I love her and what they're doing is really upsetting."
His letter claims his wife "selflessly gives many hours" and "donates both time and money" to local causes.
He added: "I know she doesn't do what she does for praise or pats on the back."
Mr Holland, a printer, said he and his friends delivered the letter, photocopied on blue A4 paper, by hand.
Gavin Cox, Liberal Democrat councillor for Splott, is pictured alongside the story on the front of the Focus newsletter.Gavin Cox, Liberal Democrat councillor for Splott, is pictured alongside the story on the front of the Focus newsletter.
Mr Cox said he "absolutely" stood by the article and claimed there were a "number of inaccuracies" within Mr Holland's letter.Mr Cox said he "absolutely" stood by the article and claimed there were a "number of inaccuracies" within Mr Holland's letter.