Lewes MP Norman Baker today spoke in Parliament for more than two hours to block an attempt to water down the Freedom of Information Act.

The Liberal Democrat gave a lengthy and impassioned defence of the Act, which by revealing details of MPs' spending habits had, he said, driven down their travel costs and encouraged them to make environmentally-friendly choices.

Mr Baker, with the help of a handful of FOI supporters from all parties, 'talked-out' a backbench Bill which would have exempted both Houses of Parliament from the FOI and created a new exemption for all communications between MPs and public bodies.

The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill had been proposed by Tory former chief whip David Maclean.

Mr Baker backed dozens of amendments and spoke for about two hours and 20 minutes - until the allotted time for debate had been used up - to stop the Bill becoming law.

The Government, which almost always objects to private members' bills to ensure they receive proper scrutiny, had allowed the measure to proceed to its report stage unhindered.

Mr Baker said the fact that the Government had not opposed the Bill already suggested that it sanctioned a "watering down" of its own transparency laws.

Speaking ahead of the debate he said the Bill would have done "immense damage" to the reputation of Parliament and would have made MPs look hypocritical.

The Bill has now been sent to the back of the queue of private members' bills and stands little chance of becoming law.