CONSERVATIVES SHAMED IN EXPENSES COVER-UP 'CONSPIRACY' (Julia Goldsworthy)

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

CONSERVATIVES SHAMED IN EXPENSES COVER-UP 'CONSPIRACY'

January 21, 2009 5:00 PM

The Conservative Party had to be 'shamed into supporting transparency' over parliamentary expenses, according to Cornwall's five MPs.

It emerged in Prime Minister's Questions today that the Conservatives had colluded with Government Ministers to cook up a freedom of information busting package that would put MPs' spending in the dark.

Liberal Democrats vigorously opposed the move from the start and all of the party's parliamentarians had been set to vote against the planned legislation tomorrow. Conservatives finally made a humiliating U-turn this afternoon, ruining the deal they had made with Labour Ministers.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"Freedom of Information should apply to everyone in public life. It would have been completely unacceptable to grant MPs special favours, yet the Conservative Party was prepared to be complicit in doing just that.

"Their claims to have changed, and to offer change for the country ring hollow when you find the same old Tories defending their privileges in the old boys' club at Westminster."

North Cornwall's MP Dan Rogerson, added:

"We were shocked to find that the Conservative Party could have engaged in a conspiracy of this kind. They are supposed to be there to oppose the Government, not to do its bidding.

"For days Liberal Democrats were the lone voices against this outrageous attempt to give MPs special privileges. Finally, the Conservative Party has been so embarrassed by the chorus of public discontent that they had to abandon their position.

"David Cameron clearly hoped his MPs would get away with quietly allowing the FOI exemption for MPs to pass. He was wrong, and people will not forget his last minute conversion to transparency, which smacks more of playing politics than of standing up for the principle of public access."