The public have every right to expect our elected representatives to carry out their duties to the highest-possible standards of integrity, honesty and openness. The fact that a few politicians over the years have failed rather spectacularly has contributed to a growing disenchantment with the whole business of government.

The image of our Members of Parliament will certainly not be enhanced if they vote to support proposals tabled by Commons Leader Harriet Harman, which would prevent details of their expenses from being published.

Her measure would mean details of individual receipts would not be revealed – and they would also be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

The excuse for this move is that it is costing too much to process the thousands of receipts from hundreds of MPs. It may well be costly, but the authorities really do need to understand that there will be a price to pay in terms of public opinion for any cash savings that are made.

The matter is cast in an even worse light because the move comes after the Commons Authority paid £150,000 over three years to fight, unsuccessfully, requests demanding disclosure of these very receipts.

We share the view of some of our local MPs that this should be information people can see and ask questions about. There may well not be a single sinister item among the thousands of receipts, but the very fact of effectively protecting them from public view will create a perception that our MPs have something to hide.

It is not even as though an independent body had recommended the details be kept secret.

This will be our elected representatives voting to "protect" details of how they spend our money in the course of doing their jobs.

In the interests of their own image and our trust in them, this measure should be withdrawn.