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| Brown proposes expenses overhaul | |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said he will call a parliamentary vote as early as next week to overhaul the controversial system of MPs' expenses. | Gordon Brown has said he will call a parliamentary vote as early as next week to overhaul the controversial system of MPs' expenses. |
| The prime minister said politicians had to "act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence". | The prime minister said politicians had to "act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence". |
| The move follows revelations about the use of second home allowances by several MPs, including some ministers. | The move follows revelations about the use of second home allowances by several MPs, including some ministers. |
| These should be abolished in favour of flat-rate daily expenses for attending the House of Commons, Mr Brown said. | These should be abolished in favour of flat-rate daily expenses for attending the House of Commons, Mr Brown said. |
| Full details of the proposed changes were set out in a written statement to MPs from Commons leader Harriet Harman. | |
| She said no claims for food, fuel, mortgage interest and rent should be allowed - and also said ministers living in "grace-and-favour" homes would not be able to claim the new allowance. | |
| I believe we have to act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence that MPs are there to serve the public and not themselves. Gordon Brown In full: MP expenses reform plans | |
| MPs with constituencies "within reasonable distance of Westminster" should not get extra money to pay for London accommodation. | |
| It should be replaced by the London supplement, which applies to inner-London MPs, her statement to MPs added. | |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life is due to publish a review of pay and expenses by the end of the year. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life is due to publish a review of pay and expenses by the end of the year. |
| But Mr Brown, a succession of whose ministers have been embarrassed by revelations about their expenses claims, said changes had to happen more quickly. | |
| In a video statement on the Downing Street website, he said: "I believe we have to act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence that MPs are there to serve the public and not themselves. | In a video statement on the Downing Street website, he said: "I believe we have to act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence that MPs are there to serve the public and not themselves. |
| "With these changes I hope that the work of MPs can be recognised again for what it is - service to the public." | "With these changes I hope that the work of MPs can be recognised again for what it is - service to the public." |
| 'Lost confidence' | |
| Mr Brown also said: "The issue of expenses is casting a cloud over the whole of Parliament. | |
| "So members of Parliament need to have the humility to recognise that the country has lost confidence in the current system." | |
| Calls to reform the second home allowances system have increased in recent weeks, with revelations about several MPs' use of the money. | |
| It emerged earlier this month that Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Chancellor Alistair Darling had claimed for second homes and rented out their London apartments while living in taxpayer-funded flats. | It emerged earlier this month that Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and Chancellor Alistair Darling had claimed for second homes and rented out their London apartments while living in taxpayer-funded flats. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has apologised for "mistakenly" claiming £10 for adult films her husband watched, and is being investigated after claiming at least £116,000 on her family constituency house in Worcestershire which she designated as her second home. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has apologised for "mistakenly" claiming £10 for adult films her husband watched, and is being investigated after claiming at least £116,000 on her family constituency house in Worcestershire which she designated as her second home. |
| She had designated her sister's London home, which she shares when in London, as her "main" home in her claims. | She had designated her sister's London home, which she shares when in London, as her "main" home in her claims. |
| The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, has also confirmed he is investigating Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen, who claims costs for his east London home because he lists a house 70 miles away in Colchester, Essex, as his main residence. | The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, John Lyon, has also confirmed he is investigating Leyton and Wanstead MP Harry Cohen, who claims costs for his east London home because he lists a house 70 miles away in Colchester, Essex, as his main residence. |
| Mr Lyon is also investigating a complaint about Labour minister Tony McNulty, who claimed thousands of pounds in allowances for the house his parents lived in, in his Harrow East constituency. | Mr Lyon is also investigating a complaint about Labour minister Tony McNulty, who claimed thousands of pounds in allowances for the house his parents lived in, in his Harrow East constituency. |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life has already brought forward its wider inquiry into MPs' expenses, with a report due towards the end of the year. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life has already brought forward its wider inquiry into MPs' expenses, with a report due towards the end of the year. |