I don't trust MPs, reveals Parliament's head of expenses

For the past two days, Parliament's expenses system has been on trial in Court 1 of the Finance and Tax Tribunal in Bedford Square.

On paper, this was a freedom of information tribunal hearing to decide whether more details should be disclosed about MPs' second-home expenses but in reality it has been an extraordinary examination of the fine detail of the system. The story so far.

The witness for Parliament's defence has been Andrew Walker, the finance director, who has spent five long hours under cross examination explaining why MPs should not give an inch. But with answers that can most politely be described as Rumsfeldian, lawyers representing the journalists and campaigners ran rings around the confusing and contradictory system.

I suspect that had the public (and the vast majority of MPs) been able to watch the proceedings there would have been a riot.

Full details still to come on Red Box, but one observation cannot hold. MPs do not have to submit receipts for smaller items because they are "honourable members" and can be trusted to claim honestly. But Walker has, this morning, blocked disclosure of the secret spreadsheet (known as the John Lewis list) that spells out the maximum MPs can spend on some items, such as TVs and washing machines. His argument: "My concern is that the maximum price we have will become the going rate."

In other words, even he doesn't trust them.

Update: This from former MP Richard Allen is fascinating. He says: "In the not so distant past (1997-2001 Parliament), there were no limits on what could be claimed for food. They could claim whatever they liked against the Additional Costs Allowance and many did, simply putting in a claim for 1/12th of the annual sum each month."