Second story in the Express and Star this week about Wolverhampton Conservative Councillor Jonathan Yardley

1.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Apr 2009

Yesterday's Wolverhampton Express and Star had another story regarding Wolverhampton Conservative Councillor Jonathan Yardley. The first was about the homophobia accusation I have already covered, this new one is about his non-attendance and his allowances.

They say "A senior Wolverhampton Councillor is being allowed to claim thousands of pounds in allowances despite attending no meeting in two months due to ill-health and being removed as the Tory spokesperson on community safety. Councillor Jonathan Yardley, who represents Tettenhall Regis, told today how he is living in Plymouth for personal reasons and cannot get up to the city due to medical problems. Most of his work has now been handed over to another Conservative Councillor. He is still being allowed to claim his full annual allowance of £26,941 until the end of the council municipal year in mid-may. Of they £17,961 is because of "special responsibilities" in the Cabinet, despite the 48-year-old not attending any meetings in the last eight weeks."

One has to wonder if the Express and Star have it in for Councillor Jonathan Yardley.

Liberal Democrat Paul Fellows has wished Councillor Yardley better over at http://www.wolverhamptonlibdems.org.uk/news/001421/liberal_democrats_wish_councillor_jonathan_yardley_a_speedy_recovery.html