Burstow joins fight against exclusion from Freedom of Information for MPs

5.19.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st May 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, joined a group of Liberal Democrats leading opposition against a new bill which proposes to exclude MPs correspondence from the application of the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Burstow joined fellow Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes, Norman Baker and others in an effort to challenge the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill. The bill was put forward as a Private Members Bill by former Conservative Chief Whip, David MacLean MP. Mr MacLean's bill is thought to have received tacit support from the leadership of both the Labour and Conservative leaderships.

Despite attempts by Lib Dem MPs to prolong debate and block the Bill, debate was brought to a close and a vote was held. Having been passed in the Commons, the Bill will now be debated and voted on by the House of Lords.

Commenting after the vote, Paul Burstow MP said:

"This bill is an example of hypocrisy: MPs should be leading the way in open government, not demanding other bodies disclose information while refusing to do so ourselves."

"The Government and the Conservative leadership claim they are neutral about this law change, but they should be judged by their actions."

"Labour and Conservative MPs were mobilised to support the Bill to deny the public information about the opinions and activities of their MPs."

"It is a dark day for democracy when MPs vote to protect their own self interest, rather than the interests of their constituents."