Secrets and Lies - and FOI
The MPs' expenses scandal may finally drawing to an close with the jailing of former Labour MP and ex-government minister - Elliot Morley.
After initially pleading his innnocence - and stringing the whole court process out for months - Morley suddenly admitted fiddling his parliamentary expenses - and was sentenced to 16 months in jail yesterday.
So justice has eventually been done but what a sorry way for any MP or government minister to behave - Morley dishonestly claimed more than £30,000 over an extended period.
Morley pled guilty last month to making excessive claims for mortgage costs from 2004 to 2007 - also for claiming on a mortgage that had been paid off.
When the allegations against him first surfaced - Morley claimed it had been a genuine mistake - and that he would prove that he was not guilty of deception.
Famous last words.
But it's worth reflecting that Morley would have escaped 'Scot-free' - if the House of Commons authorities got their way on Freedom of Information (FOI).
Because the bureaucrats at Westminster refused all FOI requests over MPs' expenses initially - and even tried to censor or redact important details - which, of course, finally led to MPs like Elliot Morley being exposed.
After initially pleading his innnocence - and stringing the whole court process out for months - Morley suddenly admitted fiddling his parliamentary expenses - and was sentenced to 16 months in jail yesterday.
So justice has eventually been done but what a sorry way for any MP or government minister to behave - Morley dishonestly claimed more than £30,000 over an extended period.
Morley pled guilty last month to making excessive claims for mortgage costs from 2004 to 2007 - also for claiming on a mortgage that had been paid off.
When the allegations against him first surfaced - Morley claimed it had been a genuine mistake - and that he would prove that he was not guilty of deception.
Famous last words.
But it's worth reflecting that Morley would have escaped 'Scot-free' - if the House of Commons authorities got their way on Freedom of Information (FOI).
Because the bureaucrats at Westminster refused all FOI requests over MPs' expenses initially - and even tried to censor or redact important details - which, of course, finally led to MPs like Elliot Morley being exposed.
