Bristol MPs will have to declare expenses

Every receipt claimed by the Bristol region's MPs will have to be made available to the public after a climbdown by the Government.

MPs were due to vote today on proposals that would have exempted them from the Freedom Of Information Act and blocked a High Court ruling, allowing them to conceal potentially embarrassing details of their expenses.

But the motion will not now be tabled after the Tories and Lib Dems said they would fight it meaning 1.2m receipts for expenses going back over the past three years will be released, possibly within weeks. They cover everything from travel and office running costs to furniture in second homes.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the government had thought it had cross-party agreement but would now "continue to consult on the matter".

"We thought we had agreement on the Freedom of Information Act as part of this wider package," he said.

"Recently that support that we believed we had from the main opposition party was withdrawn.

"So on this particular matter, I believe all-party support is important and we will continue to consult on that matter."

The receipts, dating back to 2005-06, were due to be released last October, but publication was delayed while documents were scanned in and personal details, such as bank accounts and telephone numbers, edited out.

Last week, Commons Leader Harriet Harman said it was too costly and time-consuming to continue, but around £1m has already been spent - on top of a £150,000 bill for a failed legal battle.

When they are published - assuming no further attempt is made to block release - attention will focus on the purchase of items such as fridges, curtains and plasma TVs, under the second home allowance.

Liberal Democrat Steve Webb, Northavon MP, said: "I had changed my plans to make sure I could vote against this bid for secrecy.

"It's an own goal to cover things up, it makes people assume there is something to hide."

MPs will vote today on future changes to the allowances system, including publishing them under more categories than before - but still not fully itemised.

Labour's Kerry McCarthy, Bristol East, said: "We were given the signal that the Conservatives were supporting this but I think they decided it was too good a political scalp not to claim."

Liam Fox, Shadow Defence Secretary and Woodspring MP, said: "Parliament made the Freedom of Information law; Parliament was included in the law; the High Court upheld the law; and the House of Commons has spent over £1 million complying with the law."