Commons loses expenses battle

The House of Commons has lost a High Court appeal over a freedom of information ruling forcing the disclosure of MPs' expenses.

Commons authorities had challenged what they called an "unlawfully intrusive" demand by the Information Tribunal that they publish a detailed breakdown of members' additional costs allowances.

The also attempted to overturn the tribunal's decision that MPs' addresses should also be disclosed, arguing they should be kept secret for security reasons.

But on Friday Sir Igor Judge, Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Blake ruled at the High Court in London that they could not interfere with the tribunal's ruling, and dismissed the challenge.

The additional costs allowance is used by MPs to cover the cost of running a second home, allowing them to have a base in Westminster and their constituencies.

The information tribunal ruled in February that the Commons must provide a detailed breakdown of the expenses of 14 MPs, including party leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

Nigel Giffin QC, appearing for the Commons, had argued that the tribunal had taken a legally flawed approach by not giving weight to the "legitimate expectation" of MPs that there would be no detailed breakdown of expenses, or the release of their home addresses, into the public domain.

The judges ruled that it was in the public interest that there should be full disclosure.

The legal challenge, which reports have suggested could cause more than £100,000, was instigated by Commons speaker Michael Martin.

The Commons has until next Tuesday to appeal the decision, and unless it succeeds must publish the details by Friday.