Shadow Minister David Willetts talks about the MPs expenses fiasco during a visit to Formby

May 27 2009 by Lyndsay Young, Formby Times

SUNLIGHT is the best “disinfectant” and people have a right to know how MPs have spent public cash, says a senior politician.

Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills, David Willetts, said MPs now need to rebuild the public’s trust.

During a visit to Formby, he spoke out over the controversy surrounding extortionate spending of taxpayers’ money by some MPs.

The MP also said Conservative leader David Cameron has made that clear to the party.

As a result of the fiasco a new speaker will take over the role as head of the House of Commons on Monday, June 22 replacing Michael Martin.

Mr Willetts said: “Clearly we need to rebuild trust and David Cameron has made that clear.

“The new speaker I am sure will want to reform how the House of Commons works.

“David Cameron has made it clear he is going to take strong action against people who he thinks have broken the letter and spirit of the rules.”

He said the public should know how MPs expenses have been spent but that there is a lot more transparency than in previous years.