Synopses & Reviews
In May 2009, the Daily Telegraph began publishing un-redacted expenses claims made by British MPs showing how, and the extent to which, some MPs took advantage of an unregulated expenses system. This study examines the evolution and political consequences of this 2009 British MPs' expenses scandal and argues that despite claims at the time of a revolution in British politics, it in fact had a limited, short-term impact. Beginning with the efforts of journalist Heather Brooke and the role of the Freedom of Information Act in exposing the scandal, the book examines the scandal's electoral impact and how it affected public perceptions of wrong-doing and probity amongst politicians. It also notes the many opportunities MPs had to reform parliamentary expenses, and gives special consideration is given to the media's role in reporting the scandal but also to the role of Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in reforming expenses.
Synopsis
This study examines the evolution and political consequences of the 2009 British MPs' expenses scandal. Despite claims of a revolution in British politics, we show how the expenses scandal had a limited, short-term impact.
About the Author
Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson is Senior Lecturer in Political Behaviour at University College London, UK. Her research has been published in Party Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Political Studies, Journal of Elections, Public and Parties, and European Journal of Marketing and has been supported by the Nuffield Foundation, Leverhulme Trust and Gates Foundation.
Table of Contents
1. The 2009 British MPs' Expenses Scandal: Origins, Evolution and Consequences; Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson and Orlanda Ward
2. Freedom of Information and the MPs' Expenses Crisis; Ben Worthy
3. A View from the Inside; Tony Wright
4. Should I Stay or Should I Go?; Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson
5. The Impact of the Scandal on the 2010 General Election Results; Charles Pattie and Ron Johnston
6. Where did Electoral Accountability Fail? MP Misconduct, Constituent Perceptions and Vote Choice; Nick Vivyan, Markus Wagner and Jessica Tarlov
7. Tempests and Teacups: Politicians' Reputations in the Wake of the Expenses Scandal; Nicholas Allen and Sarah Birch
8. Singing from the Same Broad Sheet? - Examining Newspaper Coverage Bias during the 2009 MPs Expenses Scandal; Valentino Larcinese and Indraneel Sircar
9. The New Expenses Regime and the Role of IPSA; Oonagh Gay
10. A Uniquely British Episode?; Justin Fisher and Jennifer vanHeerde-Hudson