Letter: House of secrets

Richard Corbett Mep
Tuesday 08 February 2005 01:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: It is curious that Simon Carr (The Sketch, 26 January) refers to me, and the other MEPs giving evidence to the House of Commons Scrutiny Committee last week, as "functionaries".

He also mentions the question of EU legislation being discussed in public, but he is less than clear about the current situation. May I recap?

The European Parliament meets and deliberates in public. Under the terms of the new EU constitution, the EU Council of Ministers will also meet and deliberate on legislation in public. Yet the House of Commons EU Scrutiny Committee almost always sits in secret!

But this is a decision which they can choose to reverse at any moment. Will those MPs who criticise alleged lack of transparency in EU institutions be the first to put their own House in order?

RICHARD CORBETT MEP

(Lab, Yorkshire & the Humber)

Leeds

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in