Article: Beef or chicken? Same gravy, different flavour
Apr 23, 2009 Articles, FOI in Parliament
Seeing through expenses transparency
Guardian, Thursday 23 April 2009
By Heather Brooke
Gordon Brown’s reforms may include some much-needed changes to MPs’ expenses, but they don’t go far enough
On Saturday Gordon Brown said he had more important things to deal with than MPs’ expenses.
On Tuesday morning, there was nothing more important than MPs’ expenses and their immediate [...]
Can a film make a difference?
Apr 21, 2009 Campaigns, FOI in Parliament, Freedom of Information
On Saturday Gordon Brown said he had to deal with more important issues than MPs’ expenses.
This morning expenses are a top priority and he announced an expenses overhaul within the week.
Could it be that a certain Dispatches broadcast Sunday evening had anything to do with this? Surely not?
The promised changes include:
Full receipts for ALL [...]
Watch Dispatches online
Apr 21, 2009 Campaigns, FOI in Parliament
If you missed it, or want to see it again, you can now watch this on the Channel 4 website and scroll down to:
Dispatches: The Westminster Gravy
The story behind Dispatches: The Westminster Gravy Train
Apr 18, 2009 Articles, FOI in Parliament
From the Channel 4 Website
The Palace of Westminster is meant to be the mother of all Parliaments. It is lauded as a beacon of democracy. Dispatches set out to examine the state of our primary political institution: how democratic is it and how accountable are MPs and Lords to the citizens they are meant to [...]
Soup Kitchen for Hungry MPs
Apr 16, 2009 Campaigns, FOI in Parliament
There are very few places in London where you can get a slap-up meal for less than £2.50, but Parliament is one of them.
Using freedom of information, I obtained the menus of all the restaurants and cafes in the Palace of Westminster while working on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme: The Westminster Gravy Train. [...]
Westminster Gravy Train on telly!
Apr 14, 2009 Campaigns, Central Government
Tune into your TVs this Sunday April 19th to see the culmination of my long investigation into parliamentary transparency. Is this a House fit for purpose? Is it reflective of a modern democracy? How can we ensure our elected politicians are representing our interests and not solely their own?
Channel 4 Dispatches: The Westminster Gravy Train. [...]
