Some of Tony Blair's expenses claims, which the High Court last week ruled should be disclosed to the public, have been shredded. The documents, itemising Blair's claims for household expenses during a year of his premiership, were destroyed in the midst of a legal battle over whether they should be published. All MPs' expenses are funded by taxpayers. It is a criminal offence to destroy documents to prevent their disclosure under freedom of information (FOI) laws, but Westminster officials say they were unaware that the files were the subject of a legal challenge. They insist they were destroyed by mistake. All MPs are entitled to claim for home renovations, furnishings, domestic appliances and groceries with a tariff based on prices at John Lewis, the department store. MPs have for years refused to disclose details of their expenses, which average £136,000, more than twice their salaries. This position became increasingly untenable with the arrival of FOI laws in January 2005. Since then a number of media organisations, including The Sunday Times, have been conducting a legal batttle for full disclosure of MPs' housing allowance, currently worth a maximum of £23,083.
Some of Tony Blair's expenses claims, which the High Court last week ruled should be disclosed to the public, have been shredded. The documents, itemising Blair's claims for household expenses during a year of his premiership, were destroyed in the midst of a legal battle over whether they should be published. All MPs' expenses are funded by taxpayers.
It is a criminal offence to destroy documents to prevent their disclosure under freedom of information (FOI) laws, but Westminster officials say they were unaware that the files were the subject of a legal challenge. They insist they were destroyed by mistake.
All MPs are entitled to claim for home renovations, furnishings, domestic appliances and groceries with a tariff based on prices at John Lewis, the department store. MPs have for years refused to disclose details of their expenses, which average £136,000, more than twice their salaries.
This position became increasingly untenable with the arrival of FOI laws in January 2005. Since then a number of media organisations, including The Sunday Times, have been conducting a legal batttle for full disclosure of MPs' housing allowance, currently worth a maximum of £23,083.
Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad. It's probably the first memoir I might actually buy (when it is in remainder stacks) cos it totally destroys the pair of them. keep to the Fen Causeway
Reviewers seem to be aghast at Cherie's determination, not just to confirm, but exceed our worst opinions of her keep to the Fen Causeway
