EXPENSES REVIEW POINTLESS IF MPs WON'T LISTEN - WILLIAMS

5.14.57pm GMT Mon 23rd Mar 2009

Commenting on the news that the independent Committee for Standards in Public Life are to review MP's expenses, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams MP said:

"It shouldn't take a Committee to tell you that it's wrong for London MPs to claim a second home allowance - even Tony McNulty has admitted that his expenses look 'odd'.

"I worry that Ministers could use this as a smokescreen to take the pressure off, as at the moment the papers seem to have an endless supply of Ministers who have stretched the rules to breaking point.

"MPs have had several opportunities to make expenses more transparent, but a coalition of Labour backbenchers and old-fashioned Tories have blocked any meaningful reform.

"In all honesty I don't see the point of a further review. We know what's wrong with the system and we know what we can do to put it right, but certain MPs are putting their finances ahead of public confidence in Parliament."