MPs should be open about Parliamentary Expenses

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th May 2007

Local Liberal Democrat MP, Dr Evan Harris, is campaigning against an attempt by a coalition of Conservative and Labour MPs to keep details of their expenses claims secret from the public. He is supporting his Lib Dem colleagues in their battle to prevent proposals to give special exemption to MPs from Freedom of Information laws from being introduced in the House of Commons on Friday 18th May.

Earlier this year, the government lost a legal battle led by Liberal Democrat MPs Norman Baker and Simon Hughes to require Parliament to publish the details of MPs' travel expenses claims under the law on Freedom of Information.

Dr Harris said:

"My colleagues Norman and Simon did a great service to the country earlier this year when his legal battle forced Parliament to publish the detailed travel expenses of MPs."

Now former Conservative Chief Whip, David Maclean MP, has proposed a change to the law on Freedom of Information that would exempt MPs from having their expenses claims published. Dr Harris is supporting Lib Dem MPs Norman Baker and Simon Hughes to stop this change in the law.

"I find the attitude of the Conservative and Labour MPs who support this bill sad and shocking. The attempt to ban the public from knowing the details of how taxpayers' money is being spent on their travel will rightfully anger the very people who have to foot the bill."

"MPs should justify why they travel so much by car and plane. If their travel expenses are public, the evidence is clear that MPs do not treat themselves to such generous, less environmentally-aware, travel arrangements."

"I feel very strongly that this information should be kept public. MPs should not hide behind a wall of secrecy."