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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Tories want spending put online | Tories want spending put online |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Conservatives want to allow taxpayers to go online and find out how their money is being spent. | The Conservatives want to allow taxpayers to go online and find out how their money is being spent. |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne is proposing legislation requiring the Treasury to set up a website revealing all expenditure over £25,000. | |
| He will challenge the government to back the bill, to be presented to the House of Lords by Christmas. | He will challenge the government to back the bill, to be presented to the House of Lords by Christmas. |
| "For too long, government spending has been shrouded in Whitehall secrecy," Mr Osborne said. | "For too long, government spending has been shrouded in Whitehall secrecy," Mr Osborne said. |
| The only exemptions would be spending related to national security or that which concerns personal matters covered by the Data Protection Act. | The only exemptions would be spending related to national security or that which concerns personal matters covered by the Data Protection Act. |
| Examples of spending which would be revealed includes the overhauling of the NHS computer network and travel arrangements for ministers. | Examples of spending which would be revealed includes the overhauling of the NHS computer network and travel arrangements for ministers. |
| Secrecy remains the watchword George OsborneShadown chancellor | Secrecy remains the watchword George OsborneShadown chancellor |
| Mr Osborne, in a speech focussing on politics and media in the internet age, said that while the "media is waking up to the democratisation of information... the government - particularly in this country - is still fast asleep." | Mr Osborne, in a speech focussing on politics and media in the internet age, said that while the "media is waking up to the democratisation of information... the government - particularly in this country - is still fast asleep." |
| "Secrecy remains the watchword. 'Westminster knows best' remains the assumption," he said. | "Secrecy remains the watchword. 'Westminster knows best' remains the assumption," he said. |
| Taking the US as an example, Mr Osborne said taxpayers should be able to access information online about where their taxes were being spent. | Taking the US as an example, Mr Osborne said taxpayers should be able to access information online about where their taxes were being spent. |
| In the US, a website is to be set up under the Federal Funding Transparency and Accountability Act allowing citizens to search for information on spending. | In the US, a website is to be set up under the Federal Funding Transparency and Accountability Act allowing citizens to search for information on spending. |
| Mr Osborne also said the growing popularity of social networking, on websites like MySpace and Bebo, was having an impact on politics. | Mr Osborne also said the growing popularity of social networking, on websites like MySpace and Bebo, was having an impact on politics. |
| "People are no longer prepared to sit and be spoon-fed. They are taking matters into their own hands through their blogs and online networks and user-generated content." | "People are no longer prepared to sit and be spoon-fed. They are taking matters into their own hands through their blogs and online networks and user-generated content." |
| Blogs | Blogs |
| Bloggers offered commentary on politicians and political events, as well as journalists who Mr Osborne accused of the "blurring...commentary and reporting". | Bloggers offered commentary on politicians and political events, as well as journalists who Mr Osborne accused of the "blurring...commentary and reporting". |
| "There is the looming threat of the permanent campaign - where the politician is never allowed to be off-record or off-guard," Mr Osborne said. | "There is the looming threat of the permanent campaign - where the politician is never allowed to be off-record or off-guard," Mr Osborne said. |
| A more open relationship between politicians and the public, where policies are posted on party websites and the public is invited to comment, was applauded by Mr Osborne. | A more open relationship between politicians and the public, where policies are posted on party websites and the public is invited to comment, was applauded by Mr Osborne. |
| "It is the very reverse of the usual, secret policy-making approach which political parties have traditionally favoured. | "It is the very reverse of the usual, secret policy-making approach which political parties have traditionally favoured. |
| "But we think it is in tune with the times in which we live". | "But we think it is in tune with the times in which we live". |
| If the Government Spending Transparency Bill clears the House of Lords it would then go before the House of Commons for approval. It would then only survive if there was a sizable rebellion by Labour MPs. | If the Government Spending Transparency Bill clears the House of Lords it would then go before the House of Commons for approval. It would then only survive if there was a sizable rebellion by Labour MPs. |