Local MP condemned for blocking independent audit proposals

1.59.25pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 6th Jul 2008

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon has been attacked by the Liberal Democrats for not voting for proposals for external auditing of all MPs' expenses.

148 Labour MPs, 21 Conservative MPs and UKIP's only MP united on Thursday night [3rd July] to vote down the proposal for an independent audit of all MPs' expenses claims.

No Liberal Democrat MP voted against the audit plans.

Commenting, Leader of Ashfield District Council, Jason Zadrozny said:

"This decision by MPs is foolish and wrong. It is a disaster for anyone who believes in cleaning up our politics and improving Parliament's reputation. The House of Commons had the chance to vote for proper auditing of everything MPs do with public money, but an unholy coalition of Labour and Conservative MPs prevented it.

"I am deeply disappointed that Geoff Hoon didn't turn up to vote for all MPs' allowances to be externally audited. 52 of his Labour colleagues joined the Liberal Democrats and some Conservatives in voting for independent auditing. Geoff Hoon must tell us why did he fail to vote to make MP's expenses more transparent?

"Rarely a week seems to pass without a story in the press about MPs apparently fiddling their finances. The vast majority of MPs are not corrupt. But so long as they resist having their expenses and allowances subject to robust, external audit, the public can be forgiven for wondering what they have got to hide."

Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council welcomed the announcement by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg that his party is committing to unilaterally introduce proposals rejected by Parliament yesterday, including independent spot checks of the expenses of the party's MPs:

"It is good to see Liberal Democrat MPs setting an example and showing that they have nothing to fear from open, independent scrutiny of their expenses.

"I hope that the Labour and Conservative leaderships will follow Nick Clegg's lead in implementing these measures, and we can begin to restore public confidence in politicians."