Martin demands MPs' expenses pledge (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Martin demands MPs' expenses pledge

January 22, 2009 3:36 PM

CHELTENHAM MP Martin Horwood, who has been outspoken on the need for more openness on MPs' allowances and expenses, has again challenged the government on this sensitive issue. This week the government dropped another move to exempt MPs from of the Freedom of Information legislation in return for a package of proposals which will give the public access to information about what MPs spend in unprecedented detail. Now the details will still be provided but without any exemption from the law that would have inhibited future requests.

But Martin asked for an assurance from Leader of the House Harriet Harman that there would be no future attempt to exempt MPs. 'If the new regime is going to be as open as we would all want' he said, 'surely there will be no need to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information legislation' and went on to demand that she gave a categoric assurance to the House that no future attempt would be made to bring the measure back. In her response the minister very obviously failed to give any such assurance.

Martin commented afterwards: 'this was a very disappointing reply. At the very moment when we are about to reveal details of MPs' expenses in more detail than ever before, the government risks undermining public confidence yet again by giving the impression we are still trying to wriggle out of full disclosure. It is time they accepted the inevitable, embraced openness and agreed to MPs being subject to the same rules as everyone else.'