GORDON Brown has been making some promising noises since he was formally confirmed as Tony Blair's successor as Prime Minister.

We particularly like his acceptance that there needs to be a fundamental change of emphasis in British politics, with more listening to the views of people, more humility, more transparency, and less spin.

But, as is always the case in politics, actions speak louder than words. Politicians are very good at telling us what they think we want to hear, then failing to deliver on those promises.

If Mr Brown means what he says about more open Government, he must wake up to the public relations disaster that MPs are cooking up for themselves by voting to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act.

The Chancellor has rejected calls to intervene to block the move, citing "the sovereignty of Parliament". According to the Chancellor's spokesman, he has promised not to dictate to MPs and believes that the Freedom of Information Act vote is a matter for them.

It is, however, also a matter for the millions of people in this country who have lost faith in politicians and believe that there should be greater public scrutiny of their activities, rather than less.

The move to exempt MPs from the Freedom of Information Act is hugely hypocritical, totally unjustified, and ignorant of the way it looks to the electorate. This is Parliament deciding it is above being called to account in the way that other public bodies have to be.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if our next Prime Minister came out boldly and declared that open, honest politics needs the Freedom of Information Act as a reassuring safety net?

Public trust in politics is in urgent need of being rebuilt. Removing Parliament from the glare of FOI will serve to do the opposite. We hope Gordon Brown, the transparent Prime Minister-in-waiting, is listening.