Sue disappointed by failure to improve MPs expenses rules

11.11.59am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Jul 2008

Sue Doughty, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford, is shocked that the tougher expenses rules for MPs were rejected last night.

"The majority of MPs behave responsibly and ethically and we need rules that mirror this, particularly as it's tax payers money. MPs should have clear, firm guidelines as the current expenses guidelines are woefully scant and completely inadequate for the 21st century" says Sue.

"For a start, MPs should be subject to proper external auditing and not just internal audits. There should also be random spot checks on all MPs to see that money is being spent correctly and appropriately.

"I think last night's vote has further damaged public confidence in politicians and politics and there remains a vital need for increased scrutiny and auditing to help restore some of the trust that has been lost in Westminster and politics more generally. I am genuinely disappointed by yesterday's result."

Sue continues, "Here we were presented with an opportunity to create a more transparent, fairer system of expenses and allowances that would have brought Westminster more in line with businesses. And the opportunity was missed.

"I strongly believe that accounts at Westminster should be audited in the same way any business is. It seems absolutely ludicrous to me that we have such an archaic system still in place in Parliament."

"As a business manager with a budget of millions of pounds I was responsible for ensuring that not only my expenses but those of all my staff were checked, and that they conformed to very clear guidelines. The general public has to conform to these systems and MPs should be no different."