Oldham Lib Dems celebrate Labour's expenses U-turn

11.05.20am GMT Fri 23rd Jan 2009

Oldham Liberal Democrats are celebrating the Government's humiliating u-turn on plans to keep MPs' expenses secret.

Plans announced by Labour last Friday would have meant MPs could refuse to hand over details of their expenses, but Gordon Brown caved in to public pressure on Wednesday and withdrew the proposals.

Oldham East & Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has voted repeatedly against a transparent parliament, with five votes against transparency in two years.

Elwyn Watkins, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Oldham East & Saddleworth, said, "The plan to cover up expenses was appalling and I'm delighted that public outrage and pressure from the Lib Dems has brought about this humiliating climb-down from the Government.

"However, it was rather surprising to see Phil Woolas MP come out in favour of transparency when he has not voted for it in Parliament. This is another example of him saying one thing to the people of Oldham and then doing another when down in Westminster.

"I hope now that we finally see openness from MPs on how they spend their very generous allowances. I have no doubt that some of them have viewed their expenses as an extension of their salary which itself already stands at £60,000. The knowledge that they will have to defend their purchases should end some of the most flagrant abuses of the system."

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Since 2001 Phil Woolas has "Voted strongly against a transparent Parliament".