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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Expenses row boosts small parties | Expenses row boosts small parties |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Smaller parties contesting in the European elections in Wales have urged voters not to discredit all politicians over the expenses row. | Smaller parties contesting in the European elections in Wales have urged voters not to discredit all politicians over the expenses row. |
| Jake Griffiths, 43, lead candidate for the Welsh Green Party, said: "Don't tar all politicians with the same brush." | Jake Griffiths, 43, lead candidate for the Welsh Green Party, said: "Don't tar all politicians with the same brush." |
| "There are still many honourable people left," added the third candidate for the Welsh Christian Party, Clive Owen. | "There are still many honourable people left," added the third candidate for the Welsh Christian Party, Clive Owen. |
| Both say they expect to do well at the polls because of declining public trust in mainstream political parties. | |
| Mr Griffiths, who works as an environmental business manager in Cardiff, said: "It is important to see how many, and what proportion of MPs have been affected. Don't discredit all." | Mr Griffiths, who works as an environmental business manager in Cardiff, said: "It is important to see how many, and what proportion of MPs have been affected. Don't discredit all." |
| 'Distraction' | 'Distraction' |
| While expenses should be dealt with "as a matter of urgency", Mr Griffiths said that major issues have been sidelined because of the recent scandals. | |
| "We've been totally distracted by this row for the last two weeks, but there are big problems in the environment and economy to deal with," he said. | "We've been totally distracted by this row for the last two weeks, but there are big problems in the environment and economy to deal with," he said. |
| Smaller parties in Wales have noticed an increase in public support since the expenses row broke out. | Smaller parties in Wales have noticed an increase in public support since the expenses row broke out. |
| It's time to put the honour back into the word honourable gentleman Jeff Green, lead candidate for the Welsh Christian Party | It's time to put the honour back into the word honourable gentleman Jeff Green, lead candidate for the Welsh Christian Party |
| Mr Owen, a pastor in Newport, said: "The lack of trust in MPs is probably at its lowest ebb ever. As the Christian Party, truth and justice are focal. I think we are gong to pick up many votes." | Mr Owen, a pastor in Newport, said: "The lack of trust in MPs is probably at its lowest ebb ever. As the Christian Party, truth and justice are focal. I think we are gong to pick up many votes." |
| He said: "I'm not here to throw stones at other parties. But they could have done better. | He said: "I'm not here to throw stones at other parties. But they could have done better. |
| "A lot of MPs, though, are having a terrible time. They've given up a large amount of their lives, and now many people don't think they're credible." | "A lot of MPs, though, are having a terrible time. They've given up a large amount of their lives, and now many people don't think they're credible." |
| 'Honour' | 'Honour' |
| Jeff Green, 44, lead candidate for the Welsh Christian Party, said: "It's time to put the honour back into the word honourable gentleman." | Jeff Green, 44, lead candidate for the Welsh Christian Party, said: "It's time to put the honour back into the word honourable gentleman." |
| The expenses row had affected the campaign for the European election, he said. | The expenses row had affected the campaign for the European election, he said. |
| Mr Green, who runs a guest house with his wife in Llandrindod Wells, Powys, said: "The trouble is people are expecting MPs to be dodgy now. The challenge is to get those names out who didn't partake in it. | |
| "But then they are almost guilty by association as they knew it was going on." | "But then they are almost guilty by association as they knew it was going on." |