MP'S A "LAUGHING STOCK" OVER FOI SAYS ROOKER

23-05-2007

Veteran Minister and former Birmingham MP Jeff Rooker has said the House of Commons has made itself “a laughing stock” by exempting parliament from the Freedom of Information Act - and has warned the measure could still be overthrown in the Lords.

Rooker - once the Perry Barr MP, now Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food - said he imagines the bill “would get a pretty rough ride” when it reaches the upper chamber.

“It beggars belief that members did what they did,” he said. “It makes the House of Commons look stupid.”

MP’s have argued that Freedom of Information jeopardises the confidentiality of constituents and could put them at risk. Rooker is unimpressed.

“I haven’t heard a single example of where someone’s name has come to light as a result of this. It makes the House of Commons look stupid. It beggars belief that members did what they did. I’ll be voting against it.”

The problem for the Lords is that as an unelected chamber it’s remit is to revise legislation not overthrow it, but Rooker doesn’t rule out some serious disruption to its progress.

“The Commons has made itself a laughing stock. Maybe it’s up to the Lords to rescue the Lords from themselves.”