GORDON BROWN has set up a team in Downing Street to counsel and support distressed Labour MPs who are facing flak from constituents over expenses claims.
An internal e-mail sent out by the Labour party to all MPs reveals that a support line called Well-being has been launched from No 10. MPs are being told they can ring the Downing Street switchboard to be put through for support and advice.
The team is led by Anne Snelgrove, Mr Brown’s newly appointed parliamentary private secretary, who used to work for schools secretary Ed Balls and is an avid user of Twitter. She recently used the site to publish a link announcing her appointment.
The e-mail sent yesterday reads: “Well-being support and advice available from colleagues: Anne Snelgrove will act as a first port of call for colleagues on these matters. Anne will have a team of colleagues working with her on this. Anne can be contacted via the No 10 switchboard.”
The e-mail, sent nearly three hours after the expenses claims became public, says lawyers are standing by to help in the worst cases. “The Labour Party is able to put colleagues in contact with a legal adviser, should you require one,” it says. –(Guardian service)