[From my e-news message to constituents]

I am sorry to write again so swiftly, after Monday’s email, but as the week has worn on I have become increasingly embarrassed and outraged by revelations in the press about the ways in which colleagues, on all sides of the House of Commons, appear to have abused the allowances and expenses system.

Earlier this afternoon I recorded a youtube video on the issue, which you can see by clicking here.

I am feeling bruised and battered by all of this, but it is as nothing compared to the hurt, anger and betrayal the British public rightly feels at the moment.

The political establishment appear to have taken the public for granted. No party can be spared responsibility for where we are now. Parliament has failed you, the people who pay our wages (and allowances, and expenses!).

I have lived in Tooting all my life and have the highest respect and admiration for all of you – you make Tooting (which includes Balham, Earlsfield, Furzedown, Graveney and Wandsworth Common) a wonderful place to live. Being elected to represent Tooting in the House of Commons was the highest honour and an immense privilege, and I have been proud to do it for the past four years.

I entered politics to serve the public, not to enrich myself, or claim unjustifiable allowances and/or expenses. My day yesterday ended just before 2am this morning as we voted to pass sections of the Budget, and today I left home at 6:45am to get to Birmingham for a Keynote speech I was delivering at the Fire and Rescue Service Conference. I addressed fire-fighters who daily risk their lives to save others and who receive a fraction of the salary and perks we do. It is a privilege that I am able to do what I do (even if it means getting home after my wife and daughters have gone to sleep, and leaving before they wake up) and I will never forget that.

I believe passionately in public service – as I said, it’s why I went into politics – and I have always held myself to the highest possible standards and been open about my expenses (you can see them here). I am really disappointed that politics and politicians have been brought into such disrepute.

I feel so let down as the recent revelations make ordinary people cynical about politics and politicians - apathy can soon turn to cynicism as people think, "They're all in it for themselves". A great deal of my time is spent encouraging young people to get involved in politics, and I am worried we may be turning off a generation from participating in politics.

Unfortunately, revelations such as the ones we have seen this week can be manipulated by the far-right & fascist groups; recently I have been encouraging as many people as possible to vote in the European elections, as this will increase the threshold the BNP need to secure seats under the PR system (seats in the European Parliament are allocated according to the percentage of total votes received).

I am determined to bounce back, to remind my colleagues why we all entered politics and begin the long and difficult task of trying to win back the confidence of the British public.

Until next time.

Best wishes,

Sadiq