MP's vote on hiding expenses Thursday 22nd January

[andrewb]

On Thursday 22nd January MP's will vote on a bill which will prevent receipts from expenses becoming public under the governments own freedom of information act. They will still announce expenses, but in less detail, the detail simply scrutinised, in secrecy, by parliamentary officials.

Greg Pope the MP for Hyndburn, publishes his expenses on his website at Greg Pope - MPs Allowances although this is not completely transparent and detailed, which it would have to be if the bill tomorrow fails.

In any walk of life, you have to provide expenses receipts, to your employer. Your employer here being the public. Are politicians going to have separate rules when it comes to expenses? To maintain (or gain) trust in politicians, surely a vote against this bill from all sides of the house is a start. What do you think?

If you want your voice heard, e-mail [email protected] even if it is early Thursday when you read this. Greg is very good at responding quickly so I'm sure you'll get your voice heard. I really urge you to do this, let him know that as his constituent, you want him to vote against this bill.

Originally Posted by Barack Obama

"And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."

An article on this: MPs to be exempt from publishing expenses | Politics | The Guardian

[MargaretR]

I am all in favour of open government but -
too much detail may well reveal travel/location patterns and habits which could be used by terrorists to target a potential victim.
I have enough confidence in Greg Pope to not try to influence his vote

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I am all in favour of open government but -
too much detail may well reveal travel/location patterns and habits which could be used by terrorists to target a potential victim.
I have enough confidence in Greg Pope to not try to influence his vote

I don't think anybody is encouraging MP's to reveal such details that might have a security impact. What I know I want it to reveal, is waste. Just think, if a majority of MP's do not vote against this bill then wastes like:

• £1,920 for plants and pergola
• £1,600 for cleaning the windows

To name just two examples, will continue to happen. MP's would stop and think before wasting public money if they were properly accountable to its spending.

[derekgas]

I think mp's expenses should be transparent, in my opinion many are still taking the mickey out of the current system, it should also be made clear which other business/charity they are involved with, and how much time they spend there, and how much they are paid, or what they are gifted.

[Wynonie Harris]

Harriet Harman, leader of the house, is understood to have pressed for the change after being lobbied by the Conservative 1922 backbench committee and the parliamentary Labour party committee, which both wanted to stop the release of the information.

Nice to see both major parties are united on something - the need to keep their snouts firmly in the trough!

[andrewb]

There is also a Facebook group that has gained 7,000 members in just 3 days. You can join it and try spread the word here: I object to MPs concealing their expenses | Facebook

There is only 24 hours left to contact your MP if you feel it is important that we know how politicians spend our money.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I am all in favour of open government but -
too much detail may well reveal travel/location patterns and habits which could be used by terrorists to target a potential victim.
I have enough confidence in Greg Pope to not try to influence his vote

I don't think that these details have ever been published Margaret, well not in broken down form anyway, an MPs travel could be easily be monitored by the fact that most payments are from home to Westminster anyway, but its never published say which form of travel arrangements are used, be it car, train, bus or plane

[andrewb]

In a surprise move it appears that this vote tomorrow has been cancelled, after a question in Prime Ministers Questions asking why Mr Brown was whipping his MP's to vote for hiding the expenses receipts.

I support this and hope that it is a complete climb down. Hopefully Brown has realised that you cannot reunite trust in politicians if they are not accountable to the electorate over expenses.

[SPUGGIE J]

Originally Posted by andrewb

In a surprise move it appears that this vote tomorrow has been cancelled, after a question in Prime Ministers Questions asking why Mr Brown was whipping his MP's to vote for hiding the expenses receipts.

I support this and hope that it is a complete climb down. Hopefully Brown has realised that you cannot reunite trust in politicians if they are not accountable to the electorate over expenses.

Too right its ours the tax payers money. They cant expect other taxpayer funded orginisations to do as they say when they wont. It is a 2 way street whether they like it or not.

[Wynonie Harris]

I'll bet you a pint that Harman finds some way of pushing it through. After all, it's not good Google Page Ranking for "the party of the working classes" to have MPs who spend nearly two grand on plants and over a grand-and-a-half on window cleaning. Much better to keep it all under wraps so that us proles never know about it.

[Greg Pope]

An interesting question to ask is why was David Cameron in favour of this motion last week, neutral on it by Monday (i.e. he wanted his MPs to have 'free' or unwhipped vote) but opposed to it by Wednesday? Anyway, the motion has subsequently been withdrawn.

I have been publishing my own expenses for quite a while now and they can be seen on my website at: Greg Pope - MPs Allowances

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Greg Pope

An interesting question to ask is why was David Cameron in favour of this motion last week, neutral on it by Monday (i.e. he wanted his MPs to have 'free' or unwhipped vote) but opposed to it by Wednesday? Anyway, the motion has subsequently been withdrawn.

I have been publishing my own expenses for quite a while now and they can be seen on my website at: Greg Pope - MPs Allowances

whats more interesting is andrew " Never" notices or comments on things with that slant on em.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by Greg Pope

An interesting question to ask is why was David Cameron in favour of this motion last week, neutral on it by Monday (i.e. he wanted his MPs to have 'free' or unwhipped vote) but opposed to it by Wednesday? Anyway, the motion has subsequently been withdrawn.

I have been publishing my own expenses for quite a while now and they can be seen on my website at: Greg Pope - MPs Allowances

At a guess, because he suddenly saw the potential electoral advantage in seeming to advocate transparency on MP's expenses. Not that it matters, as his own lot are just as keen to have their snouts in the trough as Labour...but you'll never hear Andrewb say that!

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

whats more interesting is andrew " Never" notices or comments on things with that slant on em.

Cashy your back, we've missed your wit, been a bit dull on here without ya

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Greg Pope

An interesting question to ask is why was David Cameron in favour of this motion last week, neutral on it by Monday (i.e. he wanted his MPs to have 'free' or unwhipped vote) but opposed to it by Wednesday? Anyway, the motion has subsequently been withdrawn.

I have been publishing my own expenses for quite a while now and they can be seen on my website at: Greg Pope - MPs Allowances

He has the option to change his mind Greg, after all Tony and Gorden once supported CND