Lord Taylor Of Warwick - Hol Complaint

Michael Pownall Clerk of Parliaments House of Lords London SW1A 0PW

6th August, 2009 Sent by post and fax to 02072190329 Dear Mr Pownall, Regarding Lord Taylor of Warwick We are writing to formally ask you to investigate Lord Taylor of Warwick, focusing on the situation regarding his primary residence and second home. Lord Taylor has claimed over £70,000 in expenses for a 'non-existent' main home. It is alleged that between 2001 and 2007 he claimed 'overnight subsistence' totalling £73,000 by stating his main home was his Mother's home outside London in the Midlands. However Taylor's former wife's family bought the house in May 2001 when Lord Taylor's mother had to be placed into a care home. She sadly died in December of that year. Therefore it is impossible that this house could have been his main home between 2001 and 2007. Lord Taylor has owned a residence in Ealing West London since 1995, which was his family home before he divorced in 2004. His wife and three children now live close by. He is not secretive about the address he lives at in Ealing but has declined to name the addresses he has lived at in the Midlands between 2001 - 2007. There is further circumstantial evidence that would support this claim;

• He is on the electoral register at his Ealing address • None of the work he declares in his Lord's interests is related to the Midlands. • •

He held roles as Vice President of Film Classification in London, Chancellor of Bournemouth University and was Chairman of a Surrey Recruitment Firm. His public relations company was registered at his Ealing home until 2005 He has worked part-time as a district judge on the South-Eastern circuit which does not include the Midlands

The evidence above points to the Ealing residence being Lord Taylor's primary home. It would appear to us that there is a prima facie case for Lord Taylor to answer concerning these arrangements and that further investigation, with the full compliance of Lord Taylor, is needed so this matter can be cleared up. We have already written to and faxed Lord Taylor but have not recieved any reply.

T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.

Thank you for your time and cooperation in advance and we would appreciate an acknowledgement of this letter by email or telephone. Yours sincerely,

Christopher Galley Centre for Open Politics [email protected]

T : 020 7837 3312 F : 070 9201 2337 E : [email protected] Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.