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| Brown proposes expenses overhaul | Brown proposes expenses overhaul |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said MPs' second homes expenses should be replaced by a flat-rate daily Commons attendance payment. | Gordon Brown has said MPs' second homes expenses should be replaced by a flat-rate daily Commons attendance payment. |
| The prime minister said he wanted a Commons vote next week on the measures to "restore people's confidence". | The prime minister said he wanted a Commons vote next week on the measures to "restore people's confidence". |
| Several MPs and ministers, including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, have been attacked for their use of second homes allowances, worth up to £24,000 a year. | Several MPs and ministers, including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, have been attacked for their use of second homes allowances, worth up to £24,000 a year. |
| But standards watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly, who is holding an inquiry into expenses, warned against a "quick fix". | But standards watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly, who is holding an inquiry into expenses, warned against a "quick fix". |
| The government wants changes in place by July - the same month all MPs' expenses claims, with receipts, dating back to 2004 are due to be published after a long battle by Freedom of Information campaigners. | The government wants changes in place by July - the same month all MPs' expenses claims, with receipts, dating back to 2004 are due to be published after a long battle by Freedom of Information campaigners. |
| London MPs | London MPs |
| Details of the proposed changes were set out in a written statement to MPs from Commons leader Harriet Harman. | Details of the proposed changes were set out in a written statement to MPs from Commons leader Harriet Harman. |
| Among them, she said MPs should not be allowed directly to employ staff, instead the House of Commons would be responsible for contracts and salaries. | Among them, she said MPs should not be allowed directly to employ staff, instead the House of Commons would be responsible for contracts and salaries. |
| Instead of the second homes allowance MPs would get a "flat rate" allowance based on attendance at Parliament. It is not known how much it might amount to, but Mr Brown has said the system should be "simpler and less generous". | Instead of the second homes allowance MPs would get a "flat rate" allowance based on attendance at Parliament. It is not known how much it might amount to, but Mr Brown has said the system should be "simpler and less generous". |
| Ms Blears is feeling understandably sheepish. She has apologised to the PM and takes it as a lesson to be extra careful in future Hazel Blears' spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8010596.stm">Blears almost blows PM's surprise In full: MP expenses reform plans | |
| Labour backbencher John Mann told the BBC he believed it would save the taxpayer £20m a year and amounted to "a cut" for MPs. | Labour backbencher John Mann told the BBC he believed it would save the taxpayer £20m a year and amounted to "a cut" for MPs. |
| Ms Harman said ministers living in "grace-and-favour" homes would not be able to claim the new allowance. | Ms Harman said ministers living in "grace-and-favour" homes would not be able to claim the new allowance. |
| Nor would MPs with constituencies "within reasonable distance of Westminster" who would instead be entitled to the supplement currently claimed by inner London MPs, worth up to £7,500 a year. | Nor would MPs with constituencies "within reasonable distance of Westminster" who would instead be entitled to the supplement currently claimed by inner London MPs, worth up to £7,500 a year. |
| Her statement was inadvertently revealed to the press before Mr Brown's announcement, when Communities Secretary held the document in her hand in Downing Street in full view of press photographers. | |
| But Ms Blears' mistake was not noticed by the media until some time after the prime minister had unveiled his plans on the YouTube website | |
| The Committee on Standards in Public Life, headed by Sir Christopher, is due to publish a review of pay and expenses by the end of the year. | The Committee on Standards in Public Life, headed by Sir Christopher, is due to publish a review of pay and expenses by the end of the year. |
| BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the announcement had come as a big surprise to many in Westminster, the day before the Budget, as three weeks ago Mr Brown appeared to rule out any changes before that review was complete. | BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the announcement had come as a big surprise to many in Westminster, the day before the Budget, as three weeks ago Mr Brown appeared to rule out any changes before that review was complete. |
| But on Tuesday Mr Brown, who has seen several ministers embarrassed by revelations about their expenses claims, said changes had to happen more quickly. | But on Tuesday Mr Brown, who has seen several ministers embarrassed by revelations about their expenses claims, said changes had to happen more quickly. |
| 'Lost confidence' | 'Lost confidence' |
| In a video statement on the Downing Street website, he said MPs had 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 MPs had to "act urgently with interim proposals to restore people's confidence that MPs are there to serve the public and not themselves". |
| Mr Brown added: "The issue of expenses is casting a cloud over the whole of Parliament. | Mr Brown added: "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." | "So members of Parliament need to have the humility to recognise that the country has lost confidence in the current system." |
| David Cameron: 'A welcome U-turn' | David Cameron: 'A welcome U-turn' |
| Sir Christopher said it was no surprise the parties wanted to deal with it themselves but added: "I have warned on numerous occasions that this is not something that can be solved by a quick fix. | Sir Christopher said it was no surprise the parties wanted to deal with it themselves but added: "I have warned on numerous occasions that this is not something that can be solved by a quick fix. |
| "The fundamental review we are carrying out is still needed and will still go ahead." | "The fundamental review we are carrying out is still needed and will still go ahead." |
| Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, who sat on the committee which last year reviewed MPs' expenses, told the BBC Mr Brown should have waited for that review rather than revealing it "for some sort of political advantage the day before the budget". | Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, who sat on the committee which last year reviewed MPs' expenses, told the BBC Mr Brown should have waited for that review rather than revealing it "for some sort of political advantage the day before the budget". |
| He said a flat daily rate that covered MPs' existing rental agreements was bound to be considered "quite high" and people might think paying out a lump sum was "more opaque and secretive" than filing claims for rent or mortgage payments. | He said a flat daily rate that covered MPs' existing rental agreements was bound to be considered "quite high" and people might think paying out a lump sum was "more opaque and secretive" than filing claims for rent or mortgage payments. |
| Mr Brown has offered to meet Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg in the next week to discuss the proposals. | Mr Brown has offered to meet Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg in the next week to discuss the proposals. |
| Expenses revelations | Expenses revelations |
| Mr Cameron said the announcement was "a significant and very welcome U-turn" from Mr Brown and said he was in favour of moves to "cut the cost of politics". | Mr Cameron said the announcement was "a significant and very welcome U-turn" from Mr Brown and said he was in favour of moves to "cut the cost of politics". |
| He told the BBC: "This is progress but I do worry about this idea of paying MPs a per day amount to turn up and do their jobs. I think that is open to exploitation, there will be loopholes and problems - I will go to this meeting and try to help sort them out." | He told the BBC: "This is progress but I do worry about this idea of paying MPs a per day amount to turn up and do their jobs. I think that is open to exploitation, there will be loopholes and problems - I will go to this meeting and try to help sort them out." |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was also concerned about the proposals for a daily allowance and said every pound claimed should be justified to the taxpayer. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg was also concerned about the proposals for a daily allowance and said every pound claimed should be justified to the taxpayer. |
| I don't think bringing the Brussels gravy train to Westminster is the answer to our problems Nick CleggLib Dems | I don't think bringing the Brussels gravy train to Westminster is the answer to our problems Nick CleggLib Dems |
| Mr Clegg, a former MEP, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "This is what they do in the European Parliament and I don't think bringing the Brussels gravy train to Westminster is the answer to our problems." | |
| Calls to reform second home allowances have increased, with revelations about several MPs' use of the money. | Calls to reform second home allowances have increased, with revelations about several MPs' use of the money. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Work minister Tony McNulty are both being investigated over their claims although both say they acted within the rules. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Work minister Tony McNulty are both being investigated over their claims although both say they acted within the rules. |
| The furore over expenses began last year when it emerged Conservative MP Derek Conway had claimed thousands of pounds for employing his two sons as researchers, although they had done far less work than reported by him. | The furore over expenses began last year when it emerged Conservative MP Derek Conway had claimed thousands of pounds for employing his two sons as researchers, although they had done far less work than reported by him. |
| MPs voted last July to keep second home expenses and rejected proposals for a tougher auditing regime. | MPs voted last July to keep second home expenses and rejected proposals for a tougher auditing regime. |
| Mr Brown did not vote, while 33 government ministers backed keeping the allowances. | Mr Brown did not vote, while 33 government ministers backed keeping the allowances. |