Have MPs finally found a way to exempt themselves from FOI?
So after years of trying, have Labour MPs finally found a way to exempt their outrageous expenses claims from the disinfectant of sunlight? Yesterday’s newsthat an independent audit unit would be set up to scrutinise claims may hold a clue. Stuart Bell, the senior Labour MP who has become MP Defender-in-Chief let slip a privatising the checking and audit of MP’s claims would make it impossible for the public to gain access to their receipts with freedom of information legislation. He said,
“Receipts would be available under FOI in the unit [when it is part of the Commons] but when they go to an outside unit they would not.”
Surely they cannot be serious? Do they really think that they can get away with this? I can’t believe that the court of public opinion that Harriet Harman is so fond of will allow this to happen.
Related posts:
- The oath of allegiance – Hufflepuff or Slytherin?
- Government climbdown over MPs expenses?
- Parliamentary privilege should not mean criminal immunity
Comments
11 May 2009, 1:47 pm
It is a forlorn hope on their part. The information remains the property of the House of Commons no matter who processes it and thus is subject to FOI.