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Parties to unveil expenses plans PM and Cameron in expenses clash
(39 minutes later)
Labour and the Conservatives will both unveil plans in the Commons to abolish MPs' "John Lewis list" expenses later. David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "staying in the Downing Street bunker" rather than voting against the MPs' "John Lewis list" expenses.
The Tories say they will scrap just about every item MPs can currently claim for a second home, including furniture and electrical goods. The Tory leader pressed Mr Brown to explain why he had not "turned up" for the vote, adding: "When leadership was required, you didn't provide it."
The PM claimed Mr Cameron ran away from big decisions on issues like terrorism.
The exchanges came ahead of a debate in which Labour and the Tories will unveil plans to reform MPs' expenses rules.
The Tories want to scrap most of the items MPs can currently claim for a second home, including furniture and electrical goods.
This would leave the £24,000 allowance covering mortgages or rent, council tax and utility bills.
Reforms
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. At question time in the Commons, Mr Cameron told the prime minister: "You had a chance to vote against the John Lewis list and you flunked it - you stayed in the Downing Street bunker.
"Yet again when leadership was required, you couldn't provide any."
Mr Brown has 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 taxCouncil 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.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 programmeFROM 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 (ACA), 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 allow MPs to spend £2,400 a year furnishing their second homes, but would use the independent National Audit Office as a measure of reasonable expenditure, rather than the John Lewis list.Labour has responded by tabling their own amendment. They would allow MPs to spend £2,400 a year furnishing their second homes, but would use the independent National Audit Office as a measure of reasonable expenditure, rather than the John Lewis list.
In a statement, Commons Leader Harriet Harman said the government wanted to change the allowance "so that the reasonable reimbursement of the costs of furniture and other household goods be capped at 10% of the ACA in any one year".In a statement, Commons Leader Harriet Harman said the government wanted to change the allowance "so that the reasonable reimbursement of the costs of furniture and other household goods be capped at 10% of the ACA in any one year".
The Conservatives say they have forced the government's hand on the issue as they have instigated Wednesday's debate.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. Mr 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.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 the cost of a second home.