Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has welcomed the news that the Government’s plans to exempt MPs’ expenses from FOI laws have been withdrawn.

MPs were due to vote on the controversial measure tomorrow, which would have created a special category of exemption for MPs and Peers, a plan originally proposed last year by the former Conservative Chief Whip.

The Tories' plan was backed by Labour MPs at the time, but was opposed by Liberal Democrats, including Paul Burstow MP.

This week Gordon Brown’s government were trying to reintroduce the measures but after a public outcry he has been forced to climb down and shelve the plans.

Speaking after the announcement today, Mr Burstow said: "I’m pleased that the Government have backed down on this issue and have listened to our opposition to their plans.

"Mr Brown said today that it was important to have all-party support on this matter, but he can rest assured I, and the other Liberal Democrats, will not agree to something which places MPs above the law and keeps their expenses in secret.

"We need a fair system for reporting expenses so that the public can see how all MPs are behaving. It’s just disappointing that the Government and the Tories don’t seem to agree with that."