Chris urges MP to vote for more transparent expenses

Chris Skidmore has written to the Kingswood MP, urging him to vote against the government's plans to exempt MPs' expenses from the Freedom of Information Act. Chris believes that all expenses that MPs occur should be made available to the public if we are to restore faith in our democractic system.

The letter reads:

Dear Roger,

I hope that you are well.

I am writing as a local constituent to ask that you vote against any attempt to block full publication of MPs' expenses that will be coming to the House of Commons on Thursday as part of the Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009.

We need a more democratic system of government, in which the business and expenses of MPs are more transparent and open to members of the public. This means ensuring that MPs' expenses are subject to the same regulations of the Freedom of Information Act as other public servants, and that MPs make a full disclosure of their expenses. MPs should not be exempt from the laws that they make for others. Above all, at a time when many hard working families are struggling to cope in the current recession, the general public of Kingswood have a right to know how taxpayers' money is being spent.

As President Barack Obama stated in his Inaugural Address, "Those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account – to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day – because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."

I am sure that you agree. I hope therefore that you will have little problem in voting against this Order and its attempts to block the full publication of MPs expenses.

As this is a matter of public interest, I am releasing a copy of this letter to the local media.

Yours sincerely,

Chris Skidmore