What Have They Got To Hide?

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised Labour MP for Stockton South, Dari Taylor, for supporting a Conservative Bill to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act.

Councillor Maureen Rigg, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Stockton Borough Council, said "I would like to know just what Ms Taylor has to hide. The claim that she was protecting individual constituents' casework doesn't hold water - the rules on that are perfectly clear already. The Freedom of Information Commissioner himself has said that no further safeguards are needed. This has been a black week for Parliament".

Cllr Suzanne Fletcher, one of the founder members of the Freedom of Information campaign in the early 1980s said "I am appalled that the long fought for access to information for the good of the Country is now being eroded". She went on to urge people to join the campaign to encourage the House of Lords to reject this proposed change to the law, and to sign the on-line petition at http://www.ourcampaign.org.uk/foi .

Cllr Fletcher went on to say: "The House of Lords has a tradition of standing up for democratic rights in our Country. Every single vote could count - make sure that you get your voice heard and make your views known".