National News
Nobody Smells of Roses
Monday 18 May 2009
Recent revelation of MPs expenses has more to do with the diligence of a few hard-working campaigners than anybody in authority. American, Heather Brooke, a freelance journalist and author, has been engaged in a three-year long battle over the publication of MPs expenses. This remarkable campaigner, a former crime reporter, has ploughed a lonely furrow in the English courts demanding to know more about second MPs home allowances and more. Her persistence paid off when earlier this month the High Court ruled against the government. It demanded that a Freedom of Information request for receipts of 14 MPs be granted and made public. The Commons claimed that disclosing the information would violate MPs security but the court dismissed it ordered publication. Ms Brooke victory must be hailed as a major move towards accountability and restoring the meaning to the word 'honourable' as in 'member'.