Julia comments on MPs' expenses

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th May 2009

Commenting on the revelations surrounding MPs' expenses, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"Since I was first elected, I have been arguing that the expenses system needs to change. While many Conservative and Labour MPs fought against such long-overdue reform, and supported attempts to restrict freedom of information requests on MPs' expenses, I and my party called for radical reform.

"The continuing revelations are bad for politicians of all parties, and are doing great damage to people's faith and confidence in our political system. Only an urgent and complete overhaul of the system, alongside independent audit and total transparency will be sufficient to even begin to convince people that our political system is worthy of their confidence."