BORDERS MP CAMPAIGNS TO KEEP MPs' TRAVEL INFORMATION PUBLIC

7.10.38am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th May 2007

Borders MP Michael Moore is backing a campaign by his Liberal Democrat parliamentary colleagues to keep MPs' travel information public. Former Conservative Chief Whip David Maclean MP has proposed a change to the law on Freedom of Information, which would exempt MPs from having their expense claims published. Earlier this year, the Government lost a legal battle brought by the Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker to require Parliament to publish the details of MPs' travel expense claims. In response, Conservative and Labour MPs are trying to change the law to prevent publication of expenses.

Mr Moore is backing his colleagues Simon Hughes and Norman Baker in their attempts to prevent this change in the law. He said: "The recent attempts to ban the public from knowing the detail of MPs' expenses will rightfully anger the very people who have to foot the bill, namely taxpayers. The attempt to bring in this legislation under the guise of measures to protect people who have contacted their MP is utterly disingenuous, as this is already covered by data protection laws.

It is a real shame that this Bill received the tacit support of the Government and the Conservatives. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are determined to continue our efforts to overturn this damaging piece of legislation."