Dilemma as MPs expenses are officially published
Tomorrow is the big day when details of MPs expenses are officially published by the House of Commons authorities.
The big thing most journalists will be examining is how much information has been redacted or blacked out at the request of MPs - details of private addresses and other sensitive information.
But the interesting question isn't just what has been removed - but whether any MPs have withdrawn their requests to have it redacted on the grounds that it has already appeared in the Daily Telegraph and therefore it would be embarrassing to show what they didn't want the world to see.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 18th Jun 2009, JunkkMale wrote:Nope. I am still pretty much more interested in what was/has been removed vs. what we now now would have hidden behind those pervasive black boxes.... by the system MPs are still pretty much still trying to control against the wishes of those they are supposed to represent and not just bilk.
So far, sales of black ink cartridges must be going through the roof.
I think the dilemma for some lobby access-addicted journalists is with keeping on searching and asking questions of our public servants at every turn, especially when we seem to have even more anti-democratic situations happening now... 'secret' ballots for Speakers based on 'whose turn it is' and 'constituency opposition dropping out as a courtesy', a huge % of unelected Lords and Ladies now in Government (but our Kitty's tenure, combined with what still lurks in the expenses archives might see that change too), etc.
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Jun 2009, JunkkMale wrote:Just made a note to 'invest' in tomorrow's Telegraph and its supplement of 'now you see it; now you see what they didn't want you to' comparisons.
Heavy reading no doubt, but a small moment of history worth preserving nonetheless.
I bet they won't put it online, mind. Pity. I might have got my kids to pay attention if so.
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