Labour and Conservative MPs betray the public over expenses

Last week, a number of Labour and Conservative MPs voted against full disclosure of their expenses by voting to keep their expenses closed. They rejected the possibility of allowing their salaries to be determined by an independent external committee.

Henry Vann, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Bedford, has criticised Labour and the Conservatives for keeping their closed expenses and control of their own salary.

Last year (2006-07), Patrick Hall spent £2,374 on centrally purchased stationary (71st highest among MPs) and £24,019 (122nd among MPs) on "incidental expenses provision." Meanwhile Alistair Burt, the Conservative MP for North Bedfordshire didn't do much better, claiming £22,110 on additional costs allowance (joint highest among MPs).

Henry Vann said: "This is a betrayal of the public by those MPs who voted to keep their closed expenses and reject an external pay evaluation. To have MPs picking their own salary is clearly against common sense and the principles of openness."

"The Liberal Democrats will accept and implement as many of the proposals of the Members Estimates Committee as we can; I call on the other parties to do the same."

"I have pledged to make my expenses fully public. I will ensure that every use of expenses I make is available for the people of Bedford to see and judge against the principle benefiting Bedford."

"I challenge all the MPs of Bedford and Bedfordshire to commit to openness, transparency, and reducing their use of expenses."