lizziec | MPs and FOI

Typical, that on the day the Government withdraws the plan to keep MPs expenses secret my MP should write back to me about voting against the proposed measure.

For good measure, I'm putting a copy of his reply here. Bits in italics were handwritten and not always very clear ;)

19th January 2009

Dear Mrs Charlton,

Thank you for your email of 15th January. I can understand your concerns about MPs' expenses - I am myself very uncomfortable with the way the government has handled the whole business and I am pleased that David Cameron has plans to tackle the issue. He has said:

"Let's not pretend that we're outsiders to Westminster, come to clean things up. We've been part of the problem and need to sort it out from within. That's why we'll bring about a clear change in Parliament. No more MPs voting on their own pay. No more cushy final salary pensions scheme. Clear declaration of expenses and allowances."

"Let me put this directly. This is public money, taxpayer's money, and it is our duty to be careful with it and open about how it's spent."

My party has published the attached leaflet about restoring trust in politics, including the issues of MPs' pay and expenses, which seems to me to be right.

I hope that this is helpful.

J Brazier Esq.
P.S. I voted against the generous increase in MP's salaries proposed last year and we narrowly defeated it.

In other news, should you have any spare cash lying around (I know that this is unlikely given the current economic climate) and fancy putting it towards a cool cause, the National Railway Museum in York are trying to gather funds so they can finish their restoration of The Flying Scotsman. "Steam our Scotsman" - the campaign to raise money to finish the restoration.