MPs spend £100,000 to keep expenses secret

MPs spend £100,000 to keep expenses secret

MPs have launched a £100,000 high court challenge to block the full disclosure of their expenses ordered under Freedom of Information laws.

Lawyers for the House of Commons argued that releasing detailed information of how MPs spend money on their second homes was "unlawfully intrusive". The Commons is also arguing that there are security reasons why it is wrong to require the disclosure of MPs' addresses.

The Information Tribunal ruled in February that the Commons authorities must provide details of expenses claimed by 14 named MPs, including the party leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The decision would form a legal precedent requiring other MPs to follow suit.

MPs spend £100,000 to keep expenses secret (Daily Telegraph, 8 May 2008)