Duffy should resign over expense scandal, Tory MP says
Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen says he's offended by the Senate expense scandal
Conservative MP Mike Allen is calling for Senator Mike Duffy to resign amid the growing controversy over his expense scandal.
The Tobique-Mactaquac MP told CBC’s Information Morning Fredericton on Wednesday that Duffy should consider his future as a senator.
Allen said he’d like to give the embattled senator some very simple advice.
"I’d say, ‘Mike, I think you should seriously contemplate your future as a senator. … Mike you need to reflect on that, if it was my decision, I’d resign’" Allen said.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed last Wednesday that Nigel Wright, Harper's chief of staff, wrote a personal cheque worth $90,000 to cover Duffy's improperly claimed housing allowance.
Duffy left the Conservative caucus Thursday, followed by Senator Pamela Wallin on Friday. Her travel expenses are also under scrutiny.
Liberal Senator Mac Harb also resigned from his party’s caucus over concerns about his expense claims.
Wright quit over the weekend and said in a statement that he did not advise the prime minister of how Duffy's expenses were repaid "either before or after the fact."
Harper addressed the Conservative Party’s caucus on Tuesday about the growing list of resignations and said he was "very upset" about their conduct.
"I don't think any of you are going to be very surprised to hear that I'm not happy. I'm very upset about some conduct we have witnessed, the conduct of some parliamentarians and the conduct of my own office," Harper told his caucus on Tuesday.
Scandal is 'a kick in the gut'
Allen, who represents a western New Brunswick riding, said he is personally offended by Duffy’s actions.
"It is a kick in the gut," he said.
The Conservative MP said the reaction from people in his riding has ranged from angry to livid.
Allen said the expense scandal has damaged the party’s brand.
"All the work that has been done to improve on some of the accountability measures and to add transparency measures and you feel that all that ground that you gain has slipped away by this whole issue," he said.