MPs ordered to reveal every detail about second home expenses

Campaigners won a four-year battle to shed light on how public money is spent by parliamentarians after officials admitted the system is wide open to abuse.

In what was hailed as a major victory for the taxpayer, the Information Tribunal rejected a plea for secrecy by the House of Commons.

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The freedom of information watchdog ordered the release of all records on the controversial Additional Costs Allowance, which MPs can claim to help with the cost of running two homes.

And in a stinging judgment released last night, the tribunal blasted the ACA as "a recipe for confusion, inconsistency and the risk of misuse".

Ruling in favour of campaigners who fought for transparency, it added that the system was "deeply unsatisfactory" and suffered a "shortfall both in transparency and in accountability (that) is acute".

The ruling is the final word in a long-running case that has pitted the Commons against campaigners, and will have major implications for how Parliament handles information.

Although the case concerns just 14 MPs, it will set a precedent that is expected to require all to comply.

The tribunal said MPs should publish all statements and receipts covered by the ACA, but exempted bank details, sensitive personal information such as medical details and information deemed security-sensitive.

Heather Brooke, who brought the case on behalf of the Your Right To Know campaign, said: "This ruling will wrest control from the old boys' club and put it back where it belongs - with the constituents.

"All honest and hard-working MPs will welcome this opportunity to prove their openness to the electorate.

"What's disappointing is that it took three years of concerted effort to counter the relentless opposition from the House of Commons Commission and Speaker Michael Martin, who used taxpayers' money throughout to block the very information needed for an informed electorate.

"By their secrecy, these officials have severely damaged public trust in Parliament. The only way to salvage Parliament's reputation is to embrace transparency and the public's right to know." • MEPs are keeping secret a European Parliament report which allegedly blows the whistle on a scam involving a £100million expenses fund. Euro MPs ruled on Tuesday that an internal audit which exposes abuses of money intended for workers' wages should stay under wraps.