MPs' bid to hide their addresses from public, despite fears move could
help allowance cheats
By Kirsty Walker
Last updated at 2:05 AM on 02nd March 2009
MPs will vote today on a proposal to keep their home addresses secret in
a move that critics say will help them cover-up the abuse of their
expenses.
They are expected to support plans to scrap a century-old law which
requires them to disclose their home address when standing for election.
It means that the public will no longer be able to find out where their
MP lives or whether they are properly claiming their taxpayer-funded
expenses.
Under the current law, ballot papers in general elections carry the
address of every candidate.
But the new plan allows candidates to withhold this information from the
public.
Candidates would still be required to reveal whether they lived in the
constituency, but only a handful of people would be able to gain access
to the full address.
MPs claim that the move is justified on security grounds to prevent them
from attack by terrorists or harassment from angry constituents. But
critics said it would make it easier for MPs to hide abuse of their
second-home allowance, worth up to £24,000 a year, and would erode the
link between voters and their elected representatives.
Tory MP Julian Lewis has tabled an amendment to the Political Parties
and Elections Bill, which proposes that all candidates should be legally
entitled to keep their home addresses secret from the public. The
amendment is due to be debated today in the
Commons and MPs will be given a free vote on the issue.
Jacqui Smith
Jacqui Smith came under fire for claiming £116,000 in second home
allowances
The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith claimed £116,000 in allowances after
designating a room in her sister’s London house as her ‘main home’ – a
practice that is permitted under Commons rules.
Http://www.dailymai
public-despite-
Monday 2 March 2009
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