A move to block the publication of detailed information about MPs’ expenses is being fought by Faversham MP Hugh Robertson.

The Government is facing widespread criticism after announcing it intends to change the law to prevent the disclosure of detailed information and receipts from MPs’ expenditure.

It follows a long-running wrangle over spending which led to a ruling last year that all details of where money from allowances had gone should be published.

But the Government wants to bypass that ruling with a proposal that annual totals for MPs will be published, broken down into more categories than they have been.

It would mean that MPs would be able to withhold details of precisely how they had spent money on things like furnishings and other items for second homes.

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Mr Robertson said: “I am in favour of complete transparency and believe all our receipts should be published.

“I am staggered we have got ourselves into this mess. Nobody would seriously dispute that we need some form of allowances but why should we try and exempt ourselves from disclosure?”

A number of other Kent MPs are against the Government’s plan.

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Maurice Frankel, of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said: “The individual expenses claims of senior officials across the public sector are publicly available under the FOI Act.

"There is no justification for allowing Members of Parliament to meet a lower level of scrutiny than such public sector officials.”

MPs are to vote on the proposal on Thursday.