Busy weekend ahead for Westminster’s paper shredders?

Following today’s High Court judgement it remains to be seen what Mr. Speaker, Labour’s Michael Martin, and fellow “Honourable Members”, will do next. These taxeaters could, of course, concede defeat and make public details of MPs claims on taxpayers money running into many millons of pounds. However, the consensus of opinion has it that they will appeal the High Court decision – particularly so, as this will buy time, they have nothing to lose from so doing and, as with the original legal challenge, it will not cost them a penny as, once again, it will be the taxpayer who will pick up the bill!

A selection of quotes from today’s Guardian Online make for interesting reading:

Quote: The Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, today lost a high court battle to prevent the disclosure of the details of second-home expenses claimed by 14 prominent MPs. Today’s ruling, given by Sir Igor Judge, the president of the Queen’s bench division, Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Blake, will increase pressure on Martin, who has been criticised for his decision to block the publication of the information. Unquote

Quote: “For example, there is evidence which suggests that one MP claimed ACA for a property which did not exist, and yet further evidence may demonstrate that on occasions MPs claiming ACA were letting out the accommodation procured from the ACA allowance.” Unquote

Quote: The members estimate committee will meet next week to decide what step to take next. “We received the judgment and are considering it. It will be considered by the members estimate committee next week,” a spokeswoman for the committee said.
Sitting on the committee along with Martin are frontbench representatives of the three major parties as well as some senior backbench MPs. Unquote

The article may be read, in full, here .