The Hot Air Government gets a punctureâ¦â¦
The afternoon reverie is shattered by the grinding of metal, the squeal of tyres and the smell of rubber and aviation fuel.
It is the sound of the Gordon Brownâs âHindenburgâ government apparatus simultaneously crash landing whilst performing a full reverse manoeuvre.
Last year the High Court ordered the Commons authorities to publish details, including all receipts, to back up claims made by 14 MPâs under their second homes allowance.
It had been expected that all MPsâ expenses details would then be published but Commons leader Harriet Harman told MPâs last week the government was bringing forward a plan to exempt their expenses from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.
Just after the end of Prime Ministers Question Time today the government revealed the vote on the FOI proposal would not take place. Harriet Harman said the vote had been abandoned because of the âlack of cross party- supportâ â Cameron wouldnât play ball!
The Conservatives denied they had initially struck a deal with Labour not to oppose the changes, saying there was âno questionâ of the party ever backing the proposals.
Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said: âWhat was wrong with this is that Parliament made the law â the law included Parliamentâ.
The Lib Dems, who described the FOI exemption proposal as âoutrageousâ, said the decision was a âhumiliating climbdownâ by the government.
âIt is also a victory for everyone who thinks that politicians should be open and accountable to the people who pay their wages,â said party leader Nick Clegg.
Time for Harriet Harmen to look up the meaning of consensus?
January 21, 2009 at 16:59
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Down like a Led Ballon!
January 21, 2009 at 16:56
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Any more humiliating climbdowns and they will pop up on Bondi Beach.
January 21, 2009 at 16:59
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