Anthony Steen MP - they're just jealous

Anthony Steen, Conservative MP Totnes in Devon, is probably a very nice man. He has spoken repeatedly against human trafficking. He spent five years as a youth club leader in the East End of London. As a barrister he was known as the ‘poor man’s lawyer’ due to his defense of the poor against the wealthy. He worked across political boundaries to press China to improve human rights. He supported measures to help victims of domestic violence.

Grovelling apology

In this BBC interview broadcast on 21st May 2009, Anthony Steen said publicly what many MPs are saying privately. He received a tremendous bollocking from Tory Party leader David Cameron for letting the cat out of the bag and issued a grovelling apology.

Very large house

Anthony Steen's a Tory grandee, a 'bed-blocker,' a rural MP sitting on a large majority who prevents a young, thrusting, perhaps more sinister Tory from getting a safe seat. He loves his 'very very large house' and his trees. His local conservative association is incandescent with rage at his behaviour and refuses to stand by him.

Private sewage system

According to the Daily Telegraph over four years Mr Steen claimed £87,729, including payments for tree surgery, guarding his shrubs against rabbits, maintaining a separate cottage and overhauling his private sewage system. In January 2005, items on Mr Steen’s claim for £13,742 included £2,858.94 for leaking pipes, £1,755.89 for fixing the water supply from the “spring and bore hole”, £1,318 for a wrought iron fireplace and £597.14 for lights.

Mr Steen has fallen on his sword, following a public rubbishing from David Cameron, and will not stand at the next election. 

The danger for the Conservatives is that party loyalty can be pushed only so far. At some point a senior Tory may point out the hypocrisy of the party leadership's position: David Cameron, who has a private fortune estimated at £30 million, claimed more than £80,000 in additional costs for his second home in Oxfordshire between 2004 and 2008.