MID-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is still backing a controversial bill that could exempt MPs and peers from freedom of information laws despite the leader of the Conservative party telling his party to vote against it.

David Cameron said he wanted to find a way to protect MPs correspondence but that he could not support the private members' Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, pushed through the House of Commons on Friday by former Conservative chief whip David Maclean.

Critics have suggested the Bill could be used to block embarrassing disclosures about MPs' allowances and expenses, but supporters say it will protect the confidentiality of correspondence between constituents and MPs.

We previously reported that although Mr Luff was not in Parliament the day it was debated, he said he would have backed the Bill.

"That still stands," he said. "My constituents come first, first and first."

Meanwhile, West Worcestershire Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Richard Burt has backed a national petition against the proposals.

He said: "There should not be one law for MPs and one for everyone else. Exempting politicians from Freedom of Information requests only adds to the public perception of Parliament being opaque and clouded in secrecy.

"If Labour under Gordon Brown are serious about reforming our democracy - this is the first real test."

When contacted by the Worcester News, Conservative West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer was unavailable for comment.