Bowled over again by expenses? (From Thisisdorset)

Bowled over again by expenses?

9:00am Friday 19th June 2009 in

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FRESH revelations will be sticking in the craw of some MPs as they munch through the latest developments in the expenses scandal along with their breakfast cereal today.

Small wonder that public trust in politicians – even though many have behaved honourably – is so low when you look at how the official online publication of MPs’ expenses yesterday was censored. And that only after a long Freedom of Information battle.

Had it not been for the Telegraph exposing many a greedy politician with its revelations from a leaked version of the data, the scandal of flipped second homes would have been hidden by blacked out details on the grounds of “security”.

And “security” is also being used as the excuse for the inquiry into the Iraq war, in which 179 British service personnel died, being held entirely in secret. Despite the fact that even senior military figures would like it to be more open. We need to understand why decisions were made and accountability can only be the fruit of transparency. Too many politicians today seem wary of the public finding out what we have the right to know.

Recent revelations of MPs’ expenses have already sunk some politicians’ election chances and forced resignations. This weekend yet more details of claims are to be poured out into the breakfast bowl for public consumption. We, the public, will be chewing over again what our taxes have been spent on, sorting out the chaff from the wheat.

And knowing that some MPs nationally will have wished that wheat had been shredded.