House of Commons: fighting against transparency to the end

Today the House of Commons is releasing details of the second-home allowance of six MPs (Blair, Brown, Cameron, Prescott, Jonathan Sayeed, who quit the Commons after criticism over allowances, and Charles Kennedy).

This is a good thing.

But forgive me if I don't fall down in gratitude to the House of Commons authorities over the way this has been handled. Because:

1. Our only advance warning came from government sources yesterday afternoon. After the tip-off, I phoned the House press office who don't seem to have been planning to let us know in advance. Only after realising we knew, they issued a statement. Nothing like releasing the information as a special surprise the day after the House has broken up for its (Easter!) holidays.

2. The House of Commons is not putting the information on its website. It is sending it to the original requester (the BBC) first. The BBC will be fair and release it immediately themselves, I'm sure. But one source "familiar with such situations" said that the Commons changes the method of release depending on the type of coverage they want and what they think of the requester. We are right to be cynical about this.

3. It is one year (2003-04) and only six MPs.

4. The bigger point. This release is happening now because the Commons has been losing the PR war over expenses. They spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to stop exactly today's level of detail (ordered by the Information Commissioner, under headings such as 'food' or 'mortgage') being released. They lost that appeal, and were directed, by the Information Tribunal, to release every item claimed separately. So the appeal made life worse for themselves, and this is a rearguard action.

Perhaps they should apologise for wasting taxpayers' money by fighting the original judgment by the Information Commissioner?

Comments

[Margaret]

If they have NOTHING TO HIDE - THEN THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE BY PUBLISHING THE FULL DETAILS - Says it all - I could compare them to Used car salesmen but that would be an insult to the people who at least try and earn a living - any comments left on here - please duplicate them to Brown on his Downing St website - doubt if he reads the publics comments on here.