anthony galvin

Not that I’m taking all or any of the credit for this but the government backed down on introducing legislation that would allow MPs to suppress the details of their expense claims:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jan/21/mps-expenses

FOR THE ATTENTION OF:
Nick Raynsford MP, Greenwich and Woolwich

Dear Nick Raynsford,

I am writing to you to express my concern about the contents of the draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order. 

One of the key aspects of democracy is the ability of the electorate to hold it’s representatives to account. There are many ways to do this, such as looking at how MPs vote and the things they say in public. In recent times the register of members interests and MPs expenses have become a valuable tool in ensuring that parliament and parliamentarians continue to serve the interests of the people it seeks to represent.

Where public organisations choose to be less open and restrict access to information there is always the risk that a small number of people will seek to exploit this secrecy for their own gain. If this was to happen in relation to MPs expenses, not only would the hard earned tax revenue of ordinary working people be wasted, but also the important covenant of trust between MP and electorate be fundamentally damaged. 

Yesterday in his inauguration speech Barack Obama eloquently expressed the importance of trust and transparency between public and polity: “And 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.”

Therefore I’m urging you to continue to represent the best interests of the people of Greenwich and Woolwich by voting against the draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order. 

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Galvin

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Find out more about MPs concealing their expenses.