Conservative Future (CFUK) Chairman and Grand High Panjandrum Mark Clarke, described as the man who put FUK into CFUK, left his job at Boston Consulting shortly after his elevation to the Chair of Conservative Future, reputedly saying that he wanted to concentrate on CFUK before taking up another job lined up for January.
A monkey mole was therefore rather surprised to hear of the events at a private NSPCC fundraiser in Cumbria on Saturday night.
It appears that at one point, Mark declared that he had visited JobCentre plus and was now receiving job-seekers allowance and housing benefit - despite renting his abode from a relative.
So Mark, how many hours a week do you spend working for CF? If it’s more than 16, you might not be entitled to Jobseekers Allowance. From the picture above, it is obvious you are either shattered from all that job-hunting - that or the excercise of droit de seigneur one presumes is accorded to the chairmanship of CFUK.
Come to think of it, does CCHQ pay your travel expenses for your duties as CFUK Grand Master? - maybe you can tap them for minimum wage, unless as a hardcore Tory, you don’t believe in the minimum wage and therefore can’t accept it?
Although rejected from inclusion on the A List, Mark is on the Approved List of Candidates allowing him to apply for parliamentary selections if he has a local link with an association. I’m sure Conservative Associations will be interested to hear why he didn’t get a job or do some temping like everyone else does in his position, instead choosing to live a short while at the larsgesse of the tax payer.
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
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I think it would be fair to say that Mr Clarke is a regular...
Actually you are allowed to claim housing benefit if you are renting from a relative.
G said this on November 21st, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Yes you can, providing that the property is entirely separate/ separated from the landlords property.
If he is getting expenses from CFUK they should be deducted from his benefits on a pound-for-pound basis.
Howler monkey said this on November 21st, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Recess, your obsession with Mark Clarke is getting quite tiresome. Is there nothing more interesting for you to pontificate about? Its a shame that one of the attendees at the ball, undoubtedly one who knows Mark, felt obliged to “brief you” about apparent conversations.Obviously nothing better to do with their time..
Fly on the Wall said this on November 21st, 2006 at 11:28 pm
It should also be noted that Housing Authorities tend to have a good look at the commerciaility of the tenancy for anyone who is renting off a close relative. You normally have to declare this on your first claim form.
Veronica said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 6:44 am
Are you in love with Mark, Alex?
FibDem1 said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 10:42 am
Oh dear. Could be in hot water if true. If he has declared all monies he’s received on a week by week basis to the DWP and the local council, he’s probably ok. His HB and JSA will then be going up and down every week. If he hasn’t he could be heading for an interview under caution with the hapless DWP investigators. Even if he had been a naughty boy it probably hasn’t been going on long enough for him to have received a significant overpayment. Normally the money involved has to be three grand before they consider charging.
Liam22 said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 10:45 am
Recess don’t be a Hypocrite!
matt said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 11:04 am
This guy really is my secret Tory crush
Dr Strangelove said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 1:44 pm
Although an Authority may decide that the fraudster is high profile enough to get their hard working investigators into the papers and scare other people off committing fraud. They love a bit of free publicity, especially when they have a new ad campaign out.
Veronica said this on November 22nd, 2006 at 6:05 pm
You see! Law breaking, scrounging of the state! Mark Clarke has failed CF! It is time for Action. It is time for Annesley. Bring back the Abercorn!
Action Abercorn said this on November 23rd, 2006 at 11:02 am
Monkey - surely by accusing Mark of benefit fraud you are opening yourself to getting the red arse sued off you.
Mark knows a lot of lawyers, looks like he might put Labour’s attack dog out of business for good…
Andrew Young said this on November 23rd, 2006 at 5:52 pm