MP considers publishing expenses (From Halesowen News)

MP considers publishing expenses

4:00pm Saturday 17th January 2009

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A WORCESTERSHIRE MP says he would consider publishing full details of his Parliamentary expenses if the Government blocks moves to make MPs' receipts public.

Despite a High Court ruling last year that MPs should be forced to reveal full breakdowns of all their expenses claims under Freedom of Information (FoI) laws, the Government yesterday announced it intends to keep secret details of exactly how MPs spend their generous second home allowances.

Commons leader Harriet Harman has proposed a change in law to make MPs' expenses claims exempt from FoI rules, with a Commons vote due on the issue next week.

But Mid-Worcestershire Conservative MP Peter Luff said he strongly disagreed with the Government's blocking tactics.

“I would not vote for any such measure unless I was given an overwhelming good reason,” he said.

“This does not give us the look of transparency.

“I'm really surprised at the Government's actions. I was reconciled to full publication.”

So will Mr Luff 'publish and be damned'?

“My instinct is we should publish and not be damned, actually!” he said. “I think we've got nothing to lose.

“I've got to think about it. There is a case for doing that – and I might.

"I'm not committing to it right now – there are implications over the time it would take.”

Worcester's Labour MP Mike Foster said he “did not know the detail” of what had been proposed by his Government and so was not yet sure how he would vote.

“The decision came as a surprise to me,” he said. “You have to ask is the cost of doing this bringing any benefits? I honestly don't know – I'm not sure what people want to see.

“I will go along with whatever the House rules we must do.”

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