The third defeat for reversing FOI
(Jane Ashley is writing for this blog while Martin is temporarily involved in other BBC projects.)
Yesterday's government climbdown over the proposal to change the law to block the full release of MPs' expenses under FOI means that the experience of FOI in the UK, in at least one way, contrasts with that in some other countries.
In many places, the introduction of FOI has been followed by a backlash from those in authority which has led to restrictions on access to information. In Ireland, for example, a few years after the introduction of FOI laws, the government introduced up-front fees for FOI requests which has greatly reduced their number.
However, in the UK there have been three attempts to cut back on the access provided by the law since FOI was introduced in 2005, and none of them has succeeded.
The first was David Maclean's bill, which would have exempted Parliament from FOI. It failed when no-one would sponsor it in the House of Lords. The second was the government's plan to make it easier to reject FOI requests as too costly. Gordon Brown dropped this proposal after he took over from Tony Blair as prime minister, proclaiming his support for open government. And the third was this latest attempt.
FOI was once regarded as an issue of concern to the "chattering classes", but it now seems, in the UK at least, to have acquired more populist overtones. And President Obama too is pledging a new "era of openness".
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After seeing Margaret Beckett's hissy fit on the Daily Politics yesterday you can see why full disclosure is so vital.
MPs should not be entitled to any expenses at all.
There should be a reduction of about 100 MPs as we have councils and devolution so what are all these layers of government doing?
Then increase the salary for remaining MPs to £100 and index it in line with a similar civil service grade.
I can't claim expenses on the phone on my desk or the PC or the postage so why should MPs and nor do I get a daily pocket money allowance.
This is 2009 not 1950 and MPs need to get a reality check and fast.
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It would be really interesting if these same MPs who are desperate to keep their receipts hidden had to show their tax records.
I wonder how many of these MPs are claiming tax relief for business expenses and then claiming the money back from their pot of allowances,thus doubling up on their expenses.
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Once again rather than admit a mistake Jimmy Brown tried to blame the Tory's for reneging on a none existant deal which Harperson tried to explain as - no-one objected so we had a deal.Unbelievable!! This Government is just a shambolic bunch of spivs lurching from one mistake to another. Just like blind horses bumping into walls in an unlit room.
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I do not object to MPs recovering the cost of legitimate and reasonable expenses incurred in the execution of their duties in the same way that I expect to be reimbursed for my out-of-pocket business expenses. However, I do we believe that we the tax-payers are entitled to know that our money is being spent properly. If MPs can't understand this concern, then they are probably insufficiently bright to do their jobs properly. That Gordoin Brown ordered the whipping of Labour MPs to vote through this measure is indicative of either his total detachment from or contempt for the people of this country.
Call a general election now.
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Isn't it ironic (and disgraceful) that the very institution, Parliament, that gave us the FoI legislation is also the institution that needs monitoring to ensure that MPs do not tamper with the legislation to make themselves exempt from the bits that they, MPs, don't like?
And a change of Government will not make any difference. There are MPs across the political spectrum who have benefited greatly from the generous allowances, expenses, salaries and pensions that they give THEMSELVES. MPs might have differences of opinion when it comes to political matters, but they all feed from the same trough and will all unite when it comes to any threat to their 'swill'.
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If only the BBC would stop flouting FoI laws eh?
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The reason why MPs should not be exempt from FOI requests is that recently it seems there have been a few 'mistakes' with procedures. We are entitled to know about donations and expenses.
Today the BBC reports that Hain is guilty of "serious failures" regarding donations, and Straw is guilty of a "clear, albeit inadvertent, breach" of the rules.
If MPs did not have to provide information, perhaps these "inadvertent" failures would not be so easy to uncover.
MPs need to be reminded that they work for us, not the other way round. Knowing that they might have to answer a FOI request will help keep them on their toes.
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It is totally and utterly wrong for MP's to vote themselves pay rises and the like. I cannot think of any other job in which employees can claim nearly three times their salary in expenses. MP's do not want the hassle of claiming for every item bought, whilst the rest of us face jail if we do not comply with the law. They should be accountable like the rest of us.
Whilst this expenses debacle is being shoved around from pillar to post, these people are probably milking the system for everything they can get, before they are voted out in 2010.
This should be scrutinised, overseen and run diligently by an independent body - but is there anyone trustworthy enough to do this?
Answers on a postcard, please............
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If an MP cannot afford to buy something out of their nominated salery and expects the public to buy it for them in the way of expense accounts then we have the right to expect them to tell us what we are buying for them and why.
MP's need to remember that this is a democratic society where the government work for the people and are accountable in all aspects of their working life (expenses, time, division of labour etc) to the people.
MP's have seen themselves as above the people they work for for too long now, maybe this will be the kick up the bum they need to make them realise what the job really means
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It will be interesting to see how many couples are claiming the same expenses twice.
The company I work for dismisses people caught claiming expenses fraudulently..... Can we expect a wave of by-elections ? Of course not, they'll just say sorry and carry on.
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Half the number of MPs and give the rest three times the national average salary. Out of town MPs can be given rent-free council flats for the duration of their term. MP should receive standard public service pension, no expense claims, no subsidised of this and that.
MPs financial interests must be closely tied to the national financial interests by adjustments based upon changes in GDP, employment level and the level of the national debt/credit. High stanrdards must be set.
PM and cabinet ministers receives no more than ordinary MPs. Power alone is reward enough.
Two by-elections can be called per term for each MP if demanded by 10,000 registered electors.
There are now little trust and respect of politicians. At least MP's money matters should be kept simple and easy to understand. Complexity, opaqueness and arrogance invite suspicion, then firm belief of corruption, favouritism and swindles, even if there is none.
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You followed my suggestion about a temporary replacement! Thanks.
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