Freedom of information campaigners unhappy at expense claims secrecy

Timothy Miles, Gemma Miles and Robert Boyd

Rochdale Young Labour members, Gemma Miles, Robert Boyd and Timothy Miles have expressed frustration at a decision made by the House of Commons to block the publication of expense claims for Rochdale’s Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Rowen.

Several Freedom of Information requests to disclose Paul Rowen’s expense claims, which are among the highest of all MPs, have been refused on the grounds that “a date for publication has not yet been set”.

Despite campaigning for greater transparency regarding MPs’ expenses, Mr Rowen has so far refused to release details of what he is using public money for out of his second home and additional costs allowances.

Campaigners are urging him to match his campaigning position and be transparent about his claims.

“How can it be that we know Gordon Brown spent £15 on light bulbs in the last year and yet we know nothing about what Paul Rowen spends taxpayers’ money on?” asked Gemma Miles, chairwoman of Rochdale Young Labour. “Freedom of Information requests have revealed the expense claims of high profile MPs like Margaret Beckett, George Osbourne and John Prescott, and yet Paul Rowen is able to avoid any scrutiny at all. He carps from the sidelines about the need for greater accountability but seems to think that transparency should only affect other MPs and not him.”

Earlier this year plans to shelve MPs expense details from the Freedom of Information Act were scrapped.

Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information said: "Some MPs are clearly desperate to prevent the release of past expenses claims which are likely to have exceeded what could reasonably be justified to the public."

A spokesman for Mr Rowen said: "This is a complete non story.

"Have they also asked our other local MPs, Phil Woolas and Jim Dobbin to reveal their expenses?"