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Local Labour MP in secrecy shame
May 20, 2007 11:45 PM
Eltham Labour MP Clive Efford last week voted to increase parliamentary secrecy by exempting MPs from the Freedom of Information Act.
The Bill, introduced by the Conservative MP David Maclean, would remove any obligation for MPs' expenses to be made public. It would also stop people from finding out what their Member of Parliament has said to other public bodies.
Clive Efford MP joined an unusual alliance of Labour and Conservative MPs to vote to protect themselves from external scrutiny. Liberal Democrat MPs voted against.
Nick Raynsford (Greenwich & Woolwich) and John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead) were not in Parliament so they didn't vote.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, Simon Hughes MP said:
"This has been a shameful day for the House of Commons - MPs should set an example of open government, not apply it to everybody but ourselves.
"This is absolutely the wrong direction for open, accountable government."
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