Wolverhampton Liberal Democrats hit out at expense scandal and disappointment with local MP

9.03.36am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th May 2009

Councillor Robin Lawrence

Liberal Democrat Councillor Robin Lawrence has hit out at the MPs expense scandal saying "It is clearly time for MPs and Parliament to sort its own house out. We are in the midst of a recession and many MPs are either bending or breaking the rules to give themselves financial benefit."

There have been a number of attempts over the last few year. The Liberal Democrats led the opposition to exempt MPs from freedom of information laws. A senior Conservative MP introduced a private member's bill, the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, to remove any obligation for details of MPs' expenses to be made public. Labour and Conservative MPs voted the Bill through, local Labour MP Rob Marris did not vote on either of the two key votes.

Last year an unholy alliance of Labour and Conservatives MPs, including local Labour MP Rob Marris voted down a number of proposals from the Members Estimates Committee for tightening up MPs expenses and allowances. Amongst the proposals removed were allowing outside professionals to undertaking financial health checks of MPs offices, ensure all claims would need receipts, prevent MPs claiming for furniture and capital improvements to their second homes and limiting the daily subsistence to £30.

Councillor Robin Lawrence added "I am disappointed our local Labour MP did not vote to ensure the expenses could be made public and voted against tightening up MPs expenses and allowances."

In April Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg set out a series of proposals for urgent reform of the rules on MP expenses. These proposals stated that taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent, all expenses have to be justified on the basis of enabling MPs to do their job and reform should not increase, and should ideally reduce, the total cost of politics to the taxpayer. Mr Clegg has now also called for any profits on the sale of second homes to be returned to the state. You can find more details of Nick's proposals at http://www.nickclegg.com/2009/04/mps-expenses-reform/