Oxford Lib Dem MP supports transparency on Commons expenses (Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats)

Wantage and Didcot Liberal Democrats <info@wantagelibdems.org.uk>

Oxford Lib Dem MP supports transparency on Commons expenses

February 21, 2009 12:06 PM

Dr Evan Harris MP (left) with Wantage and Didcot Lib Dem spokesman Alan Armitage

Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, has signed an Early Day Motion in support of Members of Parliament being open about their expenses. The motion, proposed by fellow Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson, criticises the "regressive effect" of a move by the Government to reduce Parliamentary transparency. Dr Harris said: "Ministers should not be cooking up plans to keep MPs' expenses hidden from public view. With this new legislation in force, it will be one rule for MPs and another for everyone else."

He added: "Many of my constituents have to provide receipts in order to claim expenses from their employers, and there is no reason why my expenses should not be open to my employers, who are my constituents. This move just gives the impression that MPs have something to hide. Ministers must prevent it coming into force, to prevent further damage being done to the already tarnished image of Parliament as far as expenses are concerned."

Though many Conservative and Labour MPs support this Early Day Motion, neither the Conservative MP for Wantage, Ed Vaizey, nor the Labour MP for Oxford East, Andrew Smith, have signed it.

The full text of Early Day Motion 492.

Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009

That this House notes with concern the provisions in the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009 to remove the expenses of Members of Parliament and Peers from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act; notes that this order will single out MPs and Peers in a special category as the only public officials who will note have to disclose full details of their expenses; notes with concern the regressive effect of this Order on Parliamentary transparency and the detrimental impact it will have on Parliament in the eyes of the public; calls on Ministers to block or repeal the Order in the interest of MPs' and Peers' accountability to members of the public.