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Commons split over bid to keep expenses secret

Speaker Michael Martin faced a backlash on Wednesday over the High Court action to stop details of MPs' expenses being made public.

  • Evening Standard
  • Published: 00:17 March 27, 2008
  • Gulf News

London: Speaker Michael Martin faced a backlash on Wednesday over the High Court action to stop details of MPs' expenses being made public.

Tory leader David Cameron was among MPs who said they were furious with the decision to spend taxpayers' money opposing the public's right to know.

Senior Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb said: "I don't want the issue appealed. It's wholly counter-productive reputationally for Parliament to be seen to be seeking to block this. We have got to embrace the principle of openness."

The row follows the Evening Standard's disclosure on Tuesday that the Commons authorities were launching an unprecedented court action to thwart an order to publish full details of claims by 14 MPs.

In a move that could open a rift with the Speaker, Cameron's aides disclosed that he is unhappy with the situation, amid fears that public trust in politicians will be further undermined.

It is the second time that Cameron has appeared to undermine the speaker's handling of the expenses furore.

The 14 MPs whose expenses are involved in the test case include Cameron, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other prominent figures.

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