MPs give up on bid to conceal expenses
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Full details of MPs' expenses, listed down to every individual receipt, will be published from this autumn, the House of Commons announced last night.
The decision means that more than one million items of expenditure covering MPs' travel claims, their second homes allowance and claims for their offices dating back several years will be released after the Commons abandoned its court battle to keep them private.
Senior MPs on the Members' Estimates Committee, chaired by the Speaker, Michael Martin, decided yesterday not to appeal against a court ruling in a groundbreaking freedom of information case covering the expenses of 14 high-profile members. They abandoned their attempt to release a breakdown of MPs' expenses under broad headings, instead agreeing to reveal every receipt dating back to 2004-05.
Expenses details of the 14 MPs, including Gordon Brown and David Cameron, will be released to the three journalists and freedom of information campaigners who were involved in last week's High Court fight to secure publication of the information. Commons officials had said releasing details risked compromising the MPs' security.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments