Liberal Democrats back plans to reform MPs' expenses (Norwich Liberal Democrats Online)

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Liberal Democrats back plans to reform MPs' expenses

September 21, 2009 3:06 PM

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference today backed radical plans to reform MPs' expenses.

The plans include:

· All MPs who have deliberately broken the rules to be subject to investigation and, where justified, criminal prosecution

· Any future gains made by the sale of second homes to go back to the public purse

· All MPs to commit to implementing the recommendations of Sir Christopher Kelly's independent inquiry.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Paul Burstow said:

"The MPs' expenses scandal is a symptom of our failed politics. Only the Liberal Democrats offer a real alternative to our failed politics. We have an opportunity to create a different kind of politics in this country, one that isn't tainted by the scandal over MPs' expenses.

"The Liberal Democrats have consistently spoken and voted for reform of MPs' expenses, and have been calling for greater openness for years, even when both Labour and Conservative MPs opposed change.

"We need these proposals to really clean up Westminster and stop Labour and Tory MPs from going back to business as usual."

Motion passed:

Conference notes:

A. The grave effect that the expenses scandal has had on the standing of the House of Commons, the reputation of individual MPs and the conduct of democratic politics.

B. That self-regulation of MPs expenses has failed.

C. That the first-past-the-post electoral system, by effectively rendering some 80% of MPs unaccountable to their electors, has been a major factor in creating and underpinning the culture of arrogance which has underlain the expenses scandal.

Conference recognises that:

i) Liberal Democrat MPs have been consistent advocates of freedom of information, leading the fight against the attempt by Labour and Conservative MPs to exempt MPs' expenses from Freedom of Information legislation.

ii) Liberal Democrats MPs have been consistent advocates of greater transparency and reform of the system of expenses and allowances, being the only party united in voting for tighter rules and independent audit of MPs' expenses.

Conference believes that:

a) All expenses must be justified on the basis of enabling MPs to do their job.

b) Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent and MPs, as public servants, should therefore behave in a transparent and fair manner.

c) Since MPs should deliver the best value for money for the people they represent, any reform of expenses should not increase, and ideally should reduce, the total cost of politics to the taxpayer.

d) No one should be above the law, and any MPs found guilty of criminal wrongdoing should face the full penalty of the law.

Conference therefore calls for:

1. Those MPs who have clearly and deliberately broken the rules with respect to expenses to be subject to appropriate investigation and, where justified, criminal prosecution.

2. All MPs, regardless of party allegiance, to commit to implementing the recommendations of Sir Christopher Kelly's independent inquiry.

3. MPs not to be permitted to make future capital gains from the sale of second homes funded by the taxpayer - any such gains should go back to the public purse.

4. Liberal Democrat internal procedures to be beyond reproach and to ensure that MPs stay within the spirit of any new rules, as well as the letter of them.