MPs’ expenses: all will be revealed

Every receipt for expenses claimed by MPs will be published after an attempt to exempt the details was shelved.

MPs were due to vote today on proposals that would have exempted them from the Freedom Of Information Act allowing them to conceal potentially embarrassing details of their expenses.

But the motion will not now be tabled meaning that more than a million receipts for expenses going back over the past three years will be released.

They cover everything from travel and office running costs to furniture in second homes.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “I am quite frankly sick to death of Gordon Brown using Parliament in this way. Here is an opportunistic, desperate man clinging to the reigns of power. Of course, I welcome his change of mind. I am pleased that pressure from the Liberal Democrats, the only major party to oppose his efforts at secrecy has paid off.” 

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, responded to Mr Rowen's comments, saying: “I am quite frankly sick of Paul Rowen’s brass neck. Why hasn’t he published a full list of expenses and receipts if he is so outraged at this lack of transparency? There is a huge black hole in Liberal Democrat finances and Paul Rowen needs to come clean on whether he is using tax payers money for campaigning purposes, on whether he subsidises Rochdale Liberal Democrats out of his allowance and on how many agents he is employing at the tax payers’ expense."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the Government had thought it had cross-party agreement but would now “continue to consult on the matter”.

“We thought we had agreement on the Freedom of Information Act as part of this wider package,” he said.

The receipts, dating back to 2005-06, were due to be released last October, but publication was delayed while documents were scanned in and personal details, such as bank accounts and telephone numbers, edited out.

Last week, Commons Leader Harriet Harman said it was too costly and time-consuming to continue, but around £1m has already been spent — on top of a £150,000 bill for a failed legal battle.

When they are published — assuming no further attempt is made to block release — attention will focus on the purchase of items such as fridges, curtains and plasma TVs.

Campaigners said it was a victory for “people power” after a web protest.