This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7508737.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Parties to unveil expenses plans | Parties to unveil expenses plans |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Labour and the Conservatives will both unveil plans in the Commons to abolish MPs' "John Lewis list" expenses later. | Labour and the Conservatives will both unveil plans in the Commons to abolish MPs' "John Lewis list" expenses later. |
| The Tories say they will scrap just about every item MPs can currently claim for a second home, including furniture and electrical goods. | The Tories say they will scrap just about every item MPs can currently claim for a second home, including furniture and electrical goods. |
| Labour would let the National Audit Office judge what is reasonable expenditure, instead of using the prices John Lewis charges as a measure. | Labour would let the National Audit Office judge what is reasonable expenditure, instead of using the prices John Lewis charges as a measure. |
| MPs voted against radically reforming their expenses earlier this month. | MPs voted against radically reforming their expenses earlier this month. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown made it clear he was disappointed with the free vote in which many of his own MPs, including 34 members of the government, rejected a proposal to abolish the John Lewis list. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown made it clear he was disappointed with the free vote in which many of his own MPs, including 34 members of the government, rejected a proposal to abolish the John Lewis list. |
| Council tax | |
| The system deems what is reasonable for MPs to spend on furnishing and improving their constituency homes. | The system deems what is reasonable for MPs to spend on furnishing and improving their constituency homes. |
| The Tories will bring the issue before Parliament again by using an Opposition Day debate to consider MPs' expenses. | |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| They would abolish almost every item than can currently be claimed on their £24,000 a year additional costs allowance, allowing MPs to meet only mortgage payments, council tax and utility bills from the public purse. | |
| Labour has responded by tabling their own amendment. They would still allow MPs to furnish their second homes, but would use the independent National Audit Office as a measure of reasonable expenditure, rather than the John Lewis list. | |
| The Conservatives say they have forced the government's hand on the issue as they have instigated Wednesday's debate. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron will also publish the detailed expense claims for the first three months of this year for the overwhelming majority of Conservative MPs, including his entire front bench. | Conservative leader David Cameron will also publish the detailed expense claims for the first three months of this year for the overwhelming majority of Conservative MPs, including his entire front bench. |
| Labour say they are serious about their proposed reforms and will try to rush them on to the statute books before the summer recess. | |
| The John Lewis list system - officially known as the Additional Costs Allowance - allows MPs to spend £24,000 a year on household items. | The John Lewis list system - officially known as the Additional Costs Allowance - allows MPs to spend £24,000 a year on household items. |