FoI, expenses and reflected glory
by Peter Bradwell
The front pages today are all rightly focused on a bright new dawn for American politics. And in glow emanating from his unprecendented cache of political capital, leaders across the world have tried to associate themselves with President Obama's inspiring political narrative. That goes of course for politicians in this country.
But as always, their actions will speak louder than their words. Tomorrow, an order goes before Parliament that would exempt MPs expenses from the Freedom of Information Act. It is apparently easier for some MPs to swoon over President Obama's 'yes we can' politics than it is for them to adhere to policies that might help improve the relationship in the UK between people and Parliament.
The excuse is mainly costs and the complexity of making such a volume of receipts available. The reality is presumably more to do with a fear of unwanted scrutiny. But the only way of improving the ever fragile relationships between people and parliament, and between parliament and the press, is through transparency. It will be that which rids spurious stories of financial misdeeds of their oxygen, not more obfuscation. The only way to counter the suspicion that MPs are mishandling public money is to show openly that they are not.
There is a good summary at the Campaign for Freedom of Information here. There is coverage at the BBC, and an open letter from a range of organisations in the Guardian here - a letter which for one contrasts the increasing demands on citizens' information with MPs apparent attitude to their own.
And there are some things you can do should you wish to influence tomorrow's decision. Writetothem allows you to easily send a message to your MP asking them to oppose the changes - you could for example ask them to support 'EDM 492: Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order', and also to vote against the Order on Thursday. You can join a Facebook group set up by mySociety opposing the changes.
If the amendments go through, I would advocate for legislation banning MPs that supported the changes from mentioning the new President's name, or from being within 500 miles of him.
Update: The government has shelved the plans.