Local leader Cllr Chris Millington has welcomed the announcement by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg that his party is committing to unilaterally introduce proposals rejected by Parliament yesterday on the audit of MPs' expenses. These include independent spot checks of the expenses of the party's MPs. Chris said:

"It is good to see Liberal Democrat MPs setting an example and showing that they have nothing to fear from open, independent scrutiny of their expenses.

I hope that the Labour and Conservative leaderships will follow Nick Clegg's lead in implementing these measures, and we can begin to restore public confidence in politicians."

Harlow Labour MP Bill Rammell was absent from the vote in parliament on external audit of MPs' expenses. No Liberal Democrat MP voted against the proposals for independent external audit.