Today we launched "Disinfecting Parliament," a policy paper to clean up the expenses system in Westminster. You can read it at sunlight-cops.org.uk/shadowreport & hard copies are available on request.
Contact:
Juliet Samuel (Author) 07500 960 931 / 020 7837 3312
Harry Cole (Media): 07826 855 190 / 020 7837 3312
DISINFECTING PARLIAMENT
Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life review into MPs’ expenses – The shadow report.
With Sir Christopher Kelly’s Committee on Standards in Public Life’s official review due out next month, the Sunlight Centre today releases an independent shadow report, with a foreword by Douglas Carswell MP, laying out a system to stop MPs’ abuse of expenses once and for all. The report, “Disinfecting Parliament” provides a tough, benchmark by which to judge Sir Christopher Kelly’s recommendations. Sir Christopher has been investigating reform of the expenses system and the Sunlight Centre report covers his remit and puts forward their recommendations for reform. The stripped-down and simplified expenses system recommended by Sunlight would include:
* A central MPs bank account with debit cards and full and instant publication of expenditure.
* Accommodation provided to MPs by Parliament in the Olympic Village.
* A provision for voters to get corrupt MPs out of Parliament with recall by-elections.
* A reduction in perks and salaries for Ministers and their Shadows.
* A purge of redundant bodies and streamlining of the expenses system.
Juliet Samuel, Sunlight’s Research Analyst and author of ‘Disinfecting Parliament’ said:
"The expenses scandal and the Kelly report have provided us with a once in a generation chance to overhaul MPs expenses and Common’s accountabilty. For too long British politics has carried on in the world of cosy consensus and systematic shredding. MPs need to be accountable and our simple yet radical recommendations would establish clear and transparent lines of accountabilty and bring best demonstrated practice over from the private sector.
As this shadow report shows, Sir Christopher Kelly has the chance to radically mend the system of expenses and the House of Commons, we hope he doesn’t fail in his duty to do this. This report can act as a benchmark to compare the conclusions of the Committee of Standards in Public Life investigation."
-Ends-
You can read and download a copy of the report
here. Hard copy available on request.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
•The Sunlight Centre is a non-partisan, not-for-profit company advocating political transparency and openness. They are currently funding a private prosecution of the former Home Secretary.
Albion Buildings, 1 Back Hill, London, EC1R 5EN
A not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, advocating political transparency and openness.
Published on
September 21st, 2009 by
Juliet