Welsh Tory leader spent public money on iPod
Tuesday, 16 December 2008 3:43 PM
Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne is facing calls for his resignation after spending public money on an iPod.
Mr Bourne said the music player was to help him learn Welsh, but there are also questions over his use of £5,003 on "essential work" to his bathroom and £119 on a trouser press.
"I think people perhaps have a vision of Nick Bourne listening to hip-hop music," Mr Bourne said in an interview on BBC Radio Wales yesterday.
"That is not the case. There is no music on the iPod - it is political speeches and it is to help me learn Welsh.
"I am not saying there is not an issue to address, of course there is, but there are much more important issues," he continued.
There is currently an independent review into AM's expenses being conducted by Sir Roger Jones from Swansea University.
Mr Bourne said he was certain the review would tighten up rules and suggested he would suport such a change.
"We all learn lessons and that is why we are having the expenses looked at across the board," he said.
"I hope when the process is completed, people will be far happier about it."
Newsletter sign up