NEATH AM Gwenda Thomas has dismissed allegations she is claiming expenses for a flat in Cardiff and employs her husband as her official driver.

Mrs Thomas, the deputy minister for social services, hit out at the claims made in a letter carried in last week’s Guardian.

“I gave up my flat in Cardiff around three years ago,” she told the Guardian.

“I had taken it on at a time I was working extensively in Cardiff Bay.

“But the notion that I have carried on claiming expenses for it is complete and total rubbish.

“And I can also categorically state I have never employed my husband Moc as my official driver or in any other capacity.

“He will drive me on a voluntary basis but he has never, ever, been paid and never appeared on the Assembly payroll.

“The letter was a personal attack on my integrity as well as being completely untrue.

“If someone does not have the courage to put their name and address on such a letter we have to rely on good journalism to give the subject of such an unwarranted attack the right to reply.”

Her husband, Moc Thomas, added: “I have not taken one penny from the Assembly in the ten years Gwenda has been a member.

“I found those allegations extremely hurtful particularly as I know just how hard Gwenda works.”

Mrs Thomas, who lives at Gwaun cae Gurwen, believes politicians across the political spectrum face a lengthy battle to win back voters’ trust.

“We all have to work very hard and it’s not going to happen overnight,” she said.

“We have to be fully accountable to the electorate – the public have an absolute right to be angry.

“I intend to regularly publish details of my expenses on my website.”

Guardian editor Mike Lewis said: “We should have checked the facts with Mrs Thomas before publishing that letter.

“Mrs Thomas has now had the opportunity to address those points and we are happy to set the record straight.”