Details of expenses of 14 prominent MPs to be released

Details of expenses of 14 prominent MPs to be released

Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has abandoned a legal bid, costing taxpayers £150,000, to keep secret a detailed breakdown of MPs' expenses.

The Commons' members' estimates committee agreed last night it would not appeal against a ruling by the high court ordering publication of the detailed expenses of 14 prominent MPs.

The court ruled on Friday that the Information Tribunal was right to demand MPs publish details of claims made under the additional costs allowance. The tribunal acted after a series of requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

The decision last night means that the detailed breakdown of the 14 MPs, among them Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Menzies Campbell, will be published with receipts by 4pm on Friday.

Speaker ends attempt to gag MPs' expenses (The Guardian, 20 May 2008)