SNP SECURE TRANSPARENCY AT LEADERS MEETING.

SNP SECURE TRANSPARENCY AT LEADERS MEETING.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT STANDARDS SET BENCHMARK

Westminster is to move towards Scottish Parliament standards of transparency on expenses after the SNP Westminster leader, Angus Robertson MP, made the case for reform at a meeting with the Commons Speaker, Prime Minister and other party leaders at talks in parliament today (Tuesday).

The SNP have argued that the House of Commons should immediately adopt the procedures used in the Scottish Parliament, including quarterly disclosure of allowance claims, an end to flipping and, in addition, an independent audit of Members claims.

Mr Robertson said:

“I am delighted that the SNP has been able to make the case for moving the Commons towards Scottish Parliament standards of transparency, and we should have had this all-party approach years ago.

“Fundamental reform is overdue and essential, and the Scottish Parliament provides the blueprint for Westminster to move towards a transparent and trustworthy system.

“When the Scottish Parliament moved to total transparency, two things happened - the scandals and the embarrassments stopped because information was volunteered and, secondly, everybody behaved themselves because they knew it was going to be published every three months.

“In the immediate and long term, these Scottish Parliament standards show the way forward.

“We now need to get on with the independent audit of the last four years of claims so that MPs’ accounts can be cleared or otherwise, and we get on with the urgent process of restoring public confidence.

“The Scottish Parliament introduced reforms on an all-party basis when it was necessary to do so, and where Holyrood has led the Westminster Parliament must now follow.”