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Make MPs reveal expense claim details, peers urged
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent16 Jan 2009
PEERS were today urged to protect Parliament's reputation by blocking moves to keep details of MPs' expenses secret.
Freedom of information campaigners called on the Lords to oppose Commons Speaker Michael Martin's attempt to stop MPs having to publish all their receipts.
Mr Martin and Commons Leader Harriet Harman have watered down plans for publication.
The Commons authorities have spent around £1 million scanning and editing about a million receipts after losing battles in the High Court and an Information Tribunal. But these are likely never to see the light of day after Ms Harman announced that MPs will be asked to back changes to the system so they do not have to reveal exactly how they have spent public funds.
Instead, expenditure would be published under 26 categories, including hotels, repairs, council tax, utility bills, mortgage interest, rent, fixtures and fittings. This would let MPs conceal money spent on plasma TV screens, gardeners,window cleaners and furniture, as not all receipts would be published.
Maurice Frankel, director of The Campaign for Freedom of Information, said: "Chief Constables, local authority chief executives and others have to release individual expenses claims. Peers should ensure MPs are treated the same as other public figures."Commons Leader Ms Harman insisted that the public will be given more information than ever before.
However, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said: "After the fiasco of MPs' expenses, there is a great deal of work to be done rebuilding confidence in the Commons.
"This simply undermines it."
Reader views (25)
Idle curiosity - why would anyone on expenses want to hide what they are spending public money on? It can hardly be said to be subject to state secrecy regulations.
- Rogan, Irving, 19/01/2009 04:35
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Its simple, vote for an independant candidate, one not part of the main parties. Destroy the main parties.
- Dave Morris, Sunderland, 18/01/2009 21:20
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Email your local MPs party HQ and inform them that you will no be aiding and abetting this time and your vote will go elsewhere.
- Wills, Soton, 18/01/2009 07:24
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New Labour, New Mafia
- john w, hamilton canada, 16/01/2009 21:27
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What does Nu Labor think they are that we do not know what they are doing?
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 16/01/2009 18:18
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The MPs clearly think that they are above the law - the courts ruled that the documents have to be disclosed and because the MPs don't like it they are changing the law. How can MPs be accountable to their constituents if they are not willing to release details of what the constituents are paying for?
- Andy, London, 16/01/2009 16:29
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Now is the time for the Lords to do their bit directly for the public. If they vote down this piece of legislation, it will return to the Commons and the whole debate will be opened up again. If they turn it down a second time the Government would be forced to use the Parliament Act to get it through. By that time, the voting public will be well aware of who is behind this. Come on Lords and Ladies, do your bit for Britain!
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 16/01/2009 16:19
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One is no longer surprised by this sort of thing - sadly. In fact, if a day went by when not a single piece of arrogance or stupidity by our government was not annnounced, it would be highly unusual. It all reminds me of when I ran a banana plantation overseas. There was a big Chief, his evil-looking aide, a witch doctor of dubious efficiency and all their hangers-on. The national debt got bigger and bigger. And the unfortunate people got slowly hungrier and hungrier, were kicked out of their homes, and finally the whole country had to be rescued by the IMF and the UN. How long, Oh Lord, how long?
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 16/01/2009 15:53
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The TaxPayers need ‘New Public Accountability laws’ to be introduced and rigorously enforced to ensure public money is well spent.
Government appear to hardly ever place basic ‘Penalty Clauses’ into all contracts especially local Councils, this should become automatic as this is your money not theirs.
I would like David Cameron to consider this as part of his party’s political agenda.
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset, 16/01/2009 15:22
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New Labour - New Feudalism
- Don Stone, london, 16/01/2009 14:36
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Yet another example of what a corrupt bunch of people, of all political shades, we have in Parliament. I can't understand why people are so surprised. Very few MPs enjoy the support of the majority of their constituents, most polling less than 50% of the vote. It is our corrupt electoral system which then distorts the result into a "majority", allowing 27% of the vote to elect a Party with a so-called majority. Bring on Proportional Representation, at least then the public will have to be taken more notice of by these peddlers of sleaze and corruption.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England., 16/01/2009 14:30
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Well what can we do about it? Get out there and vote for a start. I think they have a cheek openly trying to block moves to keep information hiden away from the people that essentially pay there wages...
My personal view is that all MP'S outside of the cabinet should earn only a fair wage + reasonable expenses ie living and operational expenses. Allowing MP'S to own shares and sit on comapany boards just creates corruption.
- K Smith, Liverpool, 16/01/2009 13:09
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Once again they have show there contempt for the people of this country. You can be sure they will be the only ones who will not suffer through this recession. When was the last time one lost there position through incompetence, when most would not last 10 min if they had to do a job of work.
- Robert Law, Leicester, 16/01/2009 13:05
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Since 646 upright people have set a precedent for not declaring expenses, we, the 30m taxpayers can do the same thing on our tax returns from now on.
If I had to hide iPods, plasma TVs, nanny costs and mortgage payments in my expenses, I would like to keep them quiet, too.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 16/01/2009 12:43
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We really do not need MP'S in today's Britain. We have the technology to make them redundant and make the decisions. All we need is a small (and I mean small to provide a much reduced cost# decision making executive to implement the national will. I’m afraid that because MP’s control their own remuneration, they cannot resist taking what they want, when they want, and feathering their nests , both, while they working or retired. MP's have time and again proved themselves to be duplicitous self serving individuals who have put their tribal allegiances above those of the people. They have forgotten #assuming they ever had it) that for them to function properly it is absolutely necessary to live by the ethic SERVICE BEFORE SELF.
- William, deal, england, 16/01/2009 12:41
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Never mind the Lords, at the next election the public should vote so that any of the parasites that supported this motion do not re-gain their seats.
- Mark, Manchester, England, 16/01/2009 12:28
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This is a disgraceful abuse of power. If the highest public figures in the politics are not to be scrutinised by the public how we can ever be sure we are getting value for money let alone our taxes are not being wasted on luxuries in a time where the economy is leaving many out in the cold. There is already a blank cheque culture to this whole system and now without any reasonable check and balances the public will simply be left taken advantage of.
The deputy prime ministers argument simply holds no water; it should not be the governments’ position to try to bury this issue just so they can save face. The idea of special exemptions for the few in the highest echelons in power is more the working of a Zimbabwean dictatorship then any form of democracy. Shame on this government shame on the MPs that push this through & shame on the Labour Party for not having any courage on this issue.
- Sunny, Wakefield, 16/01/2009 12:17
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Of course they must show their expenses. Firstly it is not their money they are spending, Secondly everyone who pays tax has to declarte all income and gratuities. the longer Labour is in government, the more one can see similarities
with the old communist Russia. To quote George Orwell,"all men are equal, but some are more equal than others"
Also if they have nothing to hide,and are using public funds they should be open about the taxpayers money they are spending.
Where else can one get extravagant expenses without justifying them?
- Bill Fuller, Bath,Somerset, 16/01/2009 11:53
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Once again these slimy grasping creatures emerge from their ooze and defy the working classes knowledge of the misappropriation of our hard earned cash.
- Brian, Blackpool, 16/01/2009 11:44
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I though there was a country depression? What is Crash Gordon up to?!??
- Peteo, London NW1, 16/01/2009 11:41
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To hamper publishment of all expenses shows that these parasites on the public purse are embarrassed by their 'snout in the trough' profligacy. Come on the House of Lords.
- John Mizen, WALSALL, ENGLAND, 16/01/2009 11:33
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Nu Labor always thinks they own the tax payer's money! Does Crash Gordon still think there are green shoots everywhere?! Crisis time I say cutbacks.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 16/01/2009 11:26
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It seems the corruption of Gorbals Mick and Harriet Harridan knows no bounds.
- Harry Lauder, Edinburgh, Scotland, 16/01/2009 11:13
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Of course they should have to publish details of all receipts. It's public money they are spending. Local Government workers have to detail and supply proof of every expense, even a 40p parking fee. It should be the same for MPs.
- Wilma Fraser, Glasgow, 16/01/2009 10:44
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Just when you think that they cannot treat us with any more contempt and arrogance, they do it again. Let's hope the Lords save us all from this greedy selfish bunch of thieves.
- Roger, Surrey, 16/01/2009 10:28
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