Brown must oppose bill curbing freedom of information - Campbell

6.12.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 18th May 2007

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell has written to Gordon Brown asking him to oppose the Bill being debated in the House of Commons today [Friday] that aims to water down the Freedom of Information Act.

He has also written to all Liberal Democrat members encouraging them to lobby their MP against the Bill.

The Bill, introduced by the Conservative MP David Maclean, would remove any obligation for MPs' expenses to be made public. It would also stop people from finding out what their Member of Parliament has said to other public bodies.

In his letter to Gordon Brown, Menzies Campbell said:

"I was pleased to hear your recent comments about the need for Government to be more open and accountable to Parliament, and the necessity of a new ministerial code of conduct.

"In that spirit of openness and transparency, I hope that you will take the opportunity to speak out against the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, and to urge all of your colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same.

"Of all public figures, MPs have least right to be exempt from public scrutiny. We are elected to represent our constituents' interests and to maintain high standards in public life.

"I hope that you agree and that you feel able to make clear your opposition to this bill."

In the email to members Menzies Campbell added:

"An unholy alliance of Conservative and Labour MPs is backing this attempt to water down public access to freedom of information.

"They have the clear support of the Government, which, unusually, did not block the Bill at Second Reading and therefore seems happy to see its own Freedom of Information Act watered down.

"Please contact your MP before Friday to make clear your support for the Freedom of Information Act and your wish to see David Maclean's proposed Bill rejected for the reasons that I have mentioned."