JUSTICE Secretary Jack Straw has criticised the release of `gratuitously personal' information during the MPs' expenses row.
He said some MPs had resisted the disclosures because they would be embarrassing, but others had legitimate concerns the details were too personal.
He said at a Westminster conference: "Why was there resistance by MPs to its publication? In some cases, because people were worried about details coming out that have come out. In other cases people were concerned about information that would in other circumstances be kept private, not being private.
"Even the High Court said that the absolutely personal information of the kind that's been brought out should not be brought out."
Mr Straw acknowledged his own letter to the Commons fees office stated that 'accountancy does not appear to be my strongest suit' after it emerged that he had over-claimed for council tax on his second home.
He said: "I agree we should be completely accountable for what we spend, but some of the information has been gratuitously personal and that's been uncomfortable for people."
Mr Straw said problems had arisen because MPs were not sure whether the system was one of allowances, suggesting an element of entitlement, or expenses.
The Justice Secretary also had a dig at the media, which has been dominated by coverage of the expenses claims, saying: "I'm happy to debate this - but it's above all journalists who know about allowances and expenses."
Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, said the expenses row had demonstrated the importance of the Freedom of Information Act.
He said he supported journalists' demands for greater disclosure of expenses claims, although not in the detail they have now appeared.
He said his office had lit 'the blue touch paper' on the issue.
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Straw: Expenses detail 'personal'
May 14, 2009
Jack Straw
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (14/05/2009 at 06:59)
Well Jack - perhaps MPs should only claim for things they are happy for the taxpayer to be aware of.
This doesn't sound unreasonable to me - it is after all taxpayers cash.
And if you can over claim on your Council Tax and "accountancy isn't your strongest suit" - does this explain why the prisons are overcrowded, there aren't enough prison spaces after 10 years of a Labour Government being told this - and you have just cancelled the Titan Prison Project !!
Voter (14/05/2009 at 08:12)
Justified True Belief , - ... (14/05/2009 at 08:17)
If I tried to use this excuse my employer (and more importantly the taxman) would laugh at me. Well actually they would not laugh at me, they would sack me.
Savage Mandarin, Manchester (14/05/2009 at 08:40)
johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (14/05/2009 at 08:57)
I M Freeloader MP, Westminster (14/05/2009 at 08:58)
It is very very embarrassing for the hard-pressed voters to find out that as their own finances and prospects are rapidly disappearing down the lavatory of the Lanour-led economy, the people at the helm are guzzling up anything they can get their trotters on. Of course it's embarrassing.
I can't abide most Labout politicians - I find them hypocritical in the main. Blair typifies the champagne-swilling, get-rich-quick, say anything to get the vote politics invented by the New Labour Project. Jack Straw was one of the few that I had any time for and now even he's blown it.
Don't forget everybody, when you next get chance to vote, the Labour party have demonstrated that they are just the same as Tories.
Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (14/05/2009 at 09:11)
If MP's are "not comfortable" with these revalations well tough,let them squirm.They are public servants after all and we have been milked enough,the pips are now squeeking.
Justified True Belief , - ... (14/05/2009 at 09:11)
The problem is that leaves little options on who to vote for. IMHO for once we should practice true democracy at the next election and have a box (option) for - Non of the Above. I suspect this would cause a earthquake in British politics, if the result Non of the Above won by a landslide.
I M Freeloader MP, Westminster (14/05/2009 at 09:18)
As I suggested, if they are all as bad as each other, you may as well vote Tory. At least they are honest about being avericious!
Justified True Belief , - ... (14/05/2009 at 09:31)
Therefore anyone who did manage to muster a few votes” would NOT win. Rather it would force the “establishment” to come up with a new and different solution. Perhaps that is just wishful thinking on my part!!
The Wily Badger, Cheshire (14/05/2009 at 09:41)
"The problem is that leaves little options on who to vote for. IMHO for once we should practice true democracy at the next election and have a box (option) for - Non of the Above. I suspect this would cause a earthquake in British politics, if the result Non of the Above won by a landslide.
Justified True Belief , - ..."
At what would happen next? We would have a country with no elected politicians and no government. Sounds like a recipe for anarchy or dictatorship to me....
Of course with the ongoing revelations voting Tory. Labour or Lib Dem is not a particularly attractive proposition, but in 12 months we are going to have to choose someone to be our MP. A lot less time than that for the local and European elections.
If you do not give your vote to one of the "main" 3 parties, who is left? UKIP? the BNP? the Greens?
The 3 main parties have to clean up their act and equally importantly convince us that they have done so, otherwise we are heading down a very dangerous road.
Guten Tag, Manchester (14/05/2009 at 09:45)
Audenshaw Bob (14/05/2009 at 09:48)
As for Straw saying that expenses were personal well in what manner are they personal? I used to have expenses when I had a decent job and the accounts people could see where I stayed, what I had to eat, what I had to drink, what time I bought fuel, where etc. The only thing that I would consider 'personal' was if I had watched a bluey and put it on expenses (like the Home Secretary's husband), or I had ten pints (and the company might suspect a drnik problem) or I put contraceptives on them, or a prescription for anusol. Otherwise what is personal about my expenses?
I would like to point out to the former Home Secretary Mr Straw that I find it 'personal' that my phone calls and email are spied upon, that I am cctv'd an average 50 times a day, that they council can root through my bins under anti terrorism laws to check if I am putting glass in with plastics, that if pulled over for a minor motoring offence my DNA will be taken etc.
Like I said yeserday many of these MP's, incuding the Speaker, are oblivious to the real issue here and are venting their anger of the Telegraph. It is like being caught by your wife in bed with your neighbour and venting your anger on your wife and blaming her because she didn't knock before entering said bedroom.
Audenshaw Bob (14/05/2009 at 10:01)
At the last election Labour won by a landslide so most of the population voted Labour right? Wrong, more people voted Conservative but Labour won the most seats which result in 10% above. Labour have changed many boundaries to suit them.
Trouble is most Labour voters will still vote for them come what may. Manchester will always be Labour. What will happen in the coming elections is people will vote BNP, UKIP etc.
Theowolfe (14/05/2009 at 10:10)
This Bill will give legal status to the 'Nanny State'. Rights are rights, responsiblities are responsibilities, one should not be dependent on the other.
Magna Carta and the 1689 Bill of Rights were about the King and State relinquishing powers over the individual. Straw's Bill will reinforce the right of the State in our lives, Rights will be used as gifts to handed out by the State for our good behaviour.
So I would accept some fiddling expenses by MPs if we replaced that debate with one that really matters, 'the loss liberty'.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (14/05/2009 at 10:19)
Frostee, Oldham (14/05/2009 at 10:20)
I so agree with your comments, this man is also a high ranking lawyer so you would think he would have sufficient intelligence to manage his affairs correctly. It's simply amazing how many MPs are now coming out of the woodwork having 'made mistakes' 'errors' etc. They bleat that they sorry about it and will pay back the money. But how many of these are saying this simply because they have been found out? These are things we would never have discovered except for good journalism.
Sorry to say that I used to vote for Labour but not next time. I've seen the light now and seen how they are more hypocritical and far more devious than the Tories. Jack Straw and Michael Martin are prime examples of just what's wrong with politics in this country - and they still have no shame!
Justified True Belief , - ... (14/05/2009 at 10:24)
Audenshaw Bob (14/05/2009 at 10:40)
Black Flag (14/05/2009 at 10:52)
So we'd end up with some seats having no MP and being completely unrepresented in parliament? Doesn't sound that good to me.
Audenshaw Bob (14/05/2009 at 10:59)
Take that Lembit Opi. Always came over as alright and willing to send himslef up a bit on low grade chat shows. However you should have heared him yesterday launching a hate fuelled attack on the Telegarh and media in general. He had claimed a Court Summons for non payment of Council Tax on his expenses but couldn't see why people thought it wrong, wasn't willing to pay it back until some commitee gave him the nod if he had to, said he was 'off the ball' at the time of the claim etc. He went on a blistering attack saying it was noboby's business, media were to blame etc. The interviewer on BBC to her credit gave him ample opportunity for him to think about what he was saying given the public anger and 2 million people listening, really saying you might want to think about what you have just been saying and dig yourself out and retarct a bit but boy did he carry on.
The presenter said that some people might see all of this, not just his case, but all of it as some sort of loosely put 'fraud'. He then wanted to qualify if he was being accused of fraud by the BBC etc. So out of touch.
Rick Jenks, Bury (14/05/2009 at 11:21)
Straw, Blears, Lembit Opi for sure. and the atrocious speaker of the House Martin a wretched man.
We have to remember these people are making judgements on changes to our lives. Do you trust them. There opinions and judgements are not up to high standard and integrity. Let us get cracking Gordon Brown sack-sack, sack this bunch and the others who have milked and abused the system. Claims being duplicated are unaccepatble sack those who have done this. Action now.
Rick Jenks, Bury (14/05/2009 at 11:23)
Billy Brag (14/05/2009 at 11:25)
We have known for a long time that these people are amont the biggest scoundrels and fraudsters in the country, why are we even suprised?
Most of them have a complete disregard for the people they SERVE and have no idea or concern what is best for this country, their primary focus is on not upsetting very specific, minority areas of the community to gain votes and they can't even do that, what a bunch of morons!
Roger R'Roger (14/05/2009 at 12:01)
What bout Sinn Fein too? Never, ever sit in parliament yet have claimed for allowances and expenses on second homes in London from the very people they so hate. hey must be laughing their heads off.