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MP attendance pay plan 'shelved' MP attendance pay plan 'shelved'
(about 3 hours later)
The government has abandoned plans for a vote on scrapping MPs' second homes allowance, sources have told the BBC.The government has abandoned plans for a vote on scrapping MPs' second homes allowance, sources have told the BBC.
Gordon Brown's plan to replace it with a flat-rate daily allowance failed to win support from the Tories, Lib Dems and many backbench Labour MPs.Gordon Brown's plan to replace it with a flat-rate daily allowance failed to win support from the Tories, Lib Dems and many backbench Labour MPs.
MPs will instead vote on other plans for reform, including withdrawing the allowance from MPs in greater London. MPs will instead vote on other plans for reform, such as making the Commons responsible for employing staff.
The Tories and Lib Dems argued that an attendance allowance which did not require receipts was less transparent.The Tories and Lib Dems argued that an attendance allowance which did not require receipts was less transparent.
The BBC understands the issue of the overall second homes allowances will be left to an independent inquiry by the committee on standards in public life, which is due to report back by the end of 2009. The BBC understands the issue of the second homes allowances will be left to an independent inquiry by the committee on standards in public life, which is due to report back by the end of 2009.
A Commons debate and vote is expected on Thursday but is likely to concentrate on other proposals made by Mr Brown last week - such as greater transparency on MPs' earnings outside Parliament and making Commons authorities, not MPs, responsible for employing staff. 'Abdication of leadership'
There had been much speculation that Mr Brown was preparing to retreat over his plans for a flat-rate daily allowance for MPs, in anticipation of a Commons defeat in the vote. But BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said other aspects of the second homes allowance - including withdrawing it from greater London MPs and ministers with "grace and favour" homes - may also not go to the vote, which she said was a "real setback" for the prime minister.
Some agreement A Commons debate and vote is expected on Thursday but is likely to concentrate on other proposals made by Mr Brown last week - such as greater transparency on MPs' earnings outside Parliament and making the Commons authorities, not MPs, responsible for employing staff.
Asked if the plan for a flat-rate allowance was dead earlier, Ms Harman told BBC News: "No, not at all." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said that would be a "real abdication of leadership" by Mr Brown.
She told the BBC: "We are planning to have a debate and vote on Thursday on a whole range of issues where we know that the public is dissatisfied with the current situation.
"The details of our proposals will be put forward in a resolution shortly."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
The plan to replace the controversial second homes allowance - worth up to £24,000 a year to MPs representing seats outside inner London - failed to win support among opposition parties. "If this is true, and the prime minister does abandon any attempts to reform this notorious second home allowance, then I think he'll come across as a sulking schoolboy," Mr Clegg told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
"What we will be left with is the worst of all worlds: we'll have a list of fairly non-contentious but fairly minor items to agree this week, whilst the real thing that has been the source of rightful public anger, namely the very lackadaisical way in which MPs are given money for their second homes, will be left intact."
Mr Brown's plan to replace the controversial second homes allowance - worth up to £24,000 a year to MPs representing seats outside inner London - failed to win support among opposition parties.
More restrictive
It came as a surprise to many when it was announced on the Downing Street website last week.It came as a surprise to many when it was announced on the Downing Street website last week.
But it was quickly criticised by the Tories and Liberal Democrats, who said a "clocking on" allowance amounted to a "cheque for turning up to work" and was much criticised where it operated in the European Parliament.But it was quickly criticised by the Tories and Liberal Democrats, who said a "clocking on" allowance amounted to a "cheque for turning up to work" and was much criticised where it operated in the European Parliament.
Sir Christopher Kelly, who is heading up the independent inquiry into expenses, also said people would have "great difficulty in the notion that claims for the reimbursement of expenses should not need to be backed by receipts".Sir Christopher Kelly, who is heading up the independent inquiry into expenses, also said people would have "great difficulty in the notion that claims for the reimbursement of expenses should not need to be backed by receipts".
More restrictive Asked if the plan for a flat-rate allowance was dead on Monday, Commons leader Harriet Harman said: "No, not at all."
She told the BBC: "We are planning to have a debate and vote on Thursday on a whole range of issues where we know that the public is dissatisfied with the current situation.
"The details of our proposals will be put forward in a resolution shortly."
The prime minister's spokesman said the government would put forward "detailed proposals" and wanted to do so "in as consensual a way as possible".The prime minister's spokesman said the government would put forward "detailed proposals" and wanted to do so "in as consensual a way as possible".
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has put forward new proposals calling for the second homes allowance to be replaced with expenses for only basic utility bills, council tax and either rent or mortgage interest. Mr Clegg said he believed there was still time to reach some sort of agreement before Thursday and has put forward new proposals to try to reach a cross-party consensus.
He dropped his idea for MPs to be stopped from buying second homes altogether - an idea opposed by Mr Brown and Mr Cameron - saying he hoped to reach a cross party consensus more quickly. He is calling for the second homes allowance to be replaced with expenses for only basic utility bills, council tax and either rent or mortgage interest.
Asked about those proposals, Mr Cameron said he was "delighted" that Mr Clegg seemed to have moved closer to his own position on expenses and said it was important any new system was "more restrictive". He dropped his proposal for MPs to be stopped from buying second homes altogether - an idea opposed by Mr Brown and Mr Cameron.
But he added: "I don't know what's going to happen on Thursday, I have no idea what the prime minister is going to do. It seems there is considerable confusion in Downing Street." Mr Cameron said he was "delighted" that Mr Clegg seemed to have moved closer to his own position on expenses and said it was important any new system was "more restrictive".
But he added: "I don't know what's going to happen on Thursday. I have no idea what the prime minister is going to do. It seems there is considerable confusion in Downing Street."
Mr Cameron said the whole idea of a daily rate had lost public confidence.Mr Cameron said the whole idea of a daily rate had lost public confidence.
In July all MPs' expenses claims, with receipts, dating back to 2004 are due to be published after a long freedom of information battle.