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The Lords destroy bid to keep MPs' expenses secret
Last updated at 00:52am on 14.06.07An attempt to hide MPs' expenses from the public was in tatters last night.
Tory MP David Maclean's controversial Bill to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act failed to win the support of a single member of the House of Lords by a deadline of 5pm yesterday.
The collapse was hailed by opponents as a triumph for democracy over the self-interest of politicians.
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MP David Maclean has until today to find House of Lords support for his bill
It followed an outcry at the prospect of
denying constituents the right to see how much their MP was spending on travel expenses and other allowances.
Nearly 100 MPs, including at least 20 Ministers, voted last month in favour of the Private Member's Bill, which would have shrouded details of their taxpayer-funded expenses in secrecy. Just 25 MPs opposed it.
Mr Maclean needed just one willing peer to sponsor his Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill in the Lords by yesterday - but the support was not forthcoming.
Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, Lord McNally, said that it was now highly unlikely that 'this squalid little Bill' would ever reach the Statute Book.
'We are happy that this Bill will not become law. It speaks volumes that no member of the House of Lords was prepared to support this legislation,' he said.
Even if it had found a sponsor the Lords would have defeated it in a vote, he added.
Labour MP and civil liberties campaigner David Winnick said he was 'absolutely delighted' that the Bill had failed to find a sponsor.
'It is unfortunate that it has been left to the second chamber to hopefully bury this nasty Bill. I only hope that no further attempt will be made to revive the measure,' he said.
Reader views (13)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
No wonder the Commons is trying to abolish the Lords. The Lords have the sense and intelligence which is dangerously lacking in the money-grabbing parasites in the Commons.
- Lezli Taubler, London, UK
I withraw previous criticisms of the House of Lords. It just earned its keep.
- R M, London, UK
Any MP who voted for this bill must have something to hide and therefor should be blackballed from the house. Well done the Lords... Lordy, Lordy...
- Epimethean, Divided Kingdom
18°c
