Secrecy over MPs expenses must not go unchallenged- Bruce

10.53.56am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th May 2007

The Liberal Democrats have launched a national petition against the proposed exemptions for MPs

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce has criticised the Government and the Conservatives for voting in favour of concealing details on MP's expenses under the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill.

Supporting a Liberal Democrat motion against the Bill, Mr Bruce spoke of his regret that Parliament had passed the Third Reading of the Bill, proposed by former Conservative Chief Whip David Maclean MP which seeks to change the law on Freedom of Information, exempting MPs from having their expense claims published.

Earlier this year, the Government lost a legal battle brought by the Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker to require Parliament to publish the details of MPs' travel expense claims. In response, Conservative and Labour MPs are trying to change the law to prevent publication of expenses.

Commenting the Gordon MP said:

" This Bill threatens to damage public confidence in Parliament and may well bring the House of Commons into disrepute.

"There is absolutely no reason why MPs should not make their expense claims public. I'm afraid those MPs who have voted in favour of the legislation seem to think that there is one rule for them and another for everyone else. After all, other public officials are required by Parliament to reveal their own expenses.

"The debate on this change in the law was scheduled for a time when many MPs have advice surgeries and other important engagements in their constituencies, preventing many of us from being present. Whilst Gordon Brown was claiming he was in favour of more accountable government, his own party was conspiring with the Conservatives to lock the doors on open government to deny the people the right to know what their MPs are spending taxpayers' money on."

The Bill is now with the House of Lords and Liberal Democrat peers have already signalled their intent to challenge the Bill.

Mr Bruce has also welcomed the launch of a national petition by Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP against the proposals to exempt MPs from Freedom of Information rules. The petition calls on all political parties to back the campaign to stop the change going through.