World

Gordon Brown does U-turn and abandons expenses objections

by Dave Keating | January 21, 2009 at 05:17 am

84 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments

Today the prime minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, reversed his stance on a plan to block the publication of the expenses claimed by members of parliament. Last night the rival parties, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, decided that they would vote against the measure. When Brown realized he didn't have cross-party support, he decided not to go ahead with the block. The vote looks set to go ahead, and MP's expenses will be published.

Gordon Brown today performed a swift U-turn over government plans to block the publication of MPs expenses.

The Prime Minister told the Commons that the plans to amend Freedom of Information laws to exempt MPs expenses would be abandoned.

The House had been due to vote on the measures tomorrow, with Labour MPs under a three line whip to vote in favour.

He said the lack of cross-party support meant a vote would no longer held tomorrow and the issue would be reviewed further.