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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith

Expenses watchdog withholding MPs claim data over 'security' fears

Parliament's standards watchdog is indefinitely withholding details of MPs expenses claims over security fears.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) was set up to publish details of costs claimed back by MPs under transparency rules drawn up in response to public fury over the expenses scandal.

The body “paused” publication of individual claims in November (2021), following the murder of Sir David Amess at a surgery in his constituency.

They have not set a date for the review to be completed.

Tom Brake, director of campaign group Unlock Democracy, said: “Ipsa have a responsibility to ensure that no information they release endangers MPs.

“But equally they have a duty to make public information about MPs expenses and to confirm when they will do this."

IPSA was set up following the MPs expenses scandal - including anger over the infamous duck house claimed by Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers (PA)


He added: “A prolonged delay is harmful to the transparency and accountability of elected representatives and damaging to democracy.”

IPSA chiefs said in November the body would review what information was made public, and resume publications in the new year.

On Thursday IPSA published ‘top line’ totals for MPs spending in 2020-21 - but told the Sunday Mirror the publication of individual claims is still “under review.”

Full expenses claims are supposed to be published every two months - but the most recent publication dates back to last April (2021).

Announcing the review in November, the body said they had “heard from some Members … that there are concerns about some of the information we publish, including data on travel and constituency surgery venue hire.”

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