The Political Costs of the 2009 British MPs’ Expenses Scandal

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. 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 Front Matter....Pages i-xiv The 2009 British MPs’ Expenses Scandal: Origins, Evolution and Consequences....Pages 1-26 Freedom of Information and the MPs’ Expenses Crisis....Pages 27-42 Inside a Scandal....Pages 43-61 Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Impact of the Expenses Scandal on MPs’ Decisions to Stand Down....Pages 62-87 The Impact of the Scandal on the 2010 General Election Results....Pages 88-110 Where Did Electoral Accountability Fail? MP Misconduct, Constituent Perceptions and Vote Choice....Pages 111-131 Tempests and Teacups: Politicians’ Reputations in the Wake of the Expenses Scandal....Pages 132-152 Singing from the Same Broad Sheet? Examining Newspaper Coverage Bias during the 2009 MPs’ Expenses Scandal....Pages 153-174 The New Regime: The Role of IPSA....Pages 175-195 Conclusions: A Very British Episode?....Pages 196-203 Back Matter....Pages 204-221