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| MP attendance pay plan is shelved | MP attendance pay plan is shelved |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government has abandoned plans for a vote on scrapping MPs' second homes allowance, it has announced. | The government has abandoned plans for a vote on scrapping MPs' second homes allowance, it has announced. |
| 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. |
| The prime minister said "swift reform" was still needed and asked Parliament's standards watchdog to bring forward its review of expenses to July. | The prime minister said "swift reform" was still needed and asked Parliament's standards watchdog to bring forward its review of expenses to July. |
| But the Tories said the government's plans were "descending into farce". | But the Tories said the government's plans were "descending into farce". |
| MPs will still vote on other plans for reform put forward by the government. | MPs will still vote on other plans for reform put forward by the government. |
| 'Soon as possible' | 'Soon as possible' |
| 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 independent inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life is due to report back by the end of this year. | The independent inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life is due to report back by the end of this year. |
| I continue to highly value the role of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and look forward to your report on all aspects of MPs' allowances Gordon Brown Brown expenses letter: full text | |
| In a letter to its chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, Mr Brown said: "The government remains determined to move to an allowance system that is fair, transparent and less costly than the current system." | In a letter to its chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, Mr Brown said: "The government remains determined to move to an allowance system that is fair, transparent and less costly than the current system." |
| He also said: "You will also be aware that a consensus has not been reached on the future of the Personal Additional Accommodation Expenditure for MPs. But we are agreed on the need for swift reform. | He also said: "You will also be aware that a consensus has not been reached on the future of the Personal Additional Accommodation Expenditure for MPs. But we are agreed on the need for swift reform. |
| "Therefore I would ask the Committee on Standards in Public Life to come forward with its proposals on this issue as soon as possible and preferably before the summer recess, taking into account MPs' attendance at Westminster, the need for transparency and accountability and the desire to reduce the existing limits on the allowances which MPs may claim, producing overall cost savings." | "Therefore I would ask the Committee on Standards in Public Life to come forward with its proposals on this issue as soon as possible and preferably before the summer recess, taking into account MPs' attendance at Westminster, the need for transparency and accountability and the desire to reduce the existing limits on the allowances which MPs may claim, producing overall cost savings." |
| He added: "I continue to highly value the role of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and look forward to your report on all aspects of MPs' allowances." | He added: "I continue to highly value the role of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and look forward to your report on all aspects of MPs' allowances." |
| A Commons debate and vote on Thursday but will now concentrate on other proposals made by Mr Brown last week. | A Commons debate and vote on Thursday but will now concentrate on other proposals made by Mr Brown last week. |
| These include increasing transparency around MPs' outside earnings and ending claims for second homes from MPs with constituencies in greater London from 2010. | These include increasing transparency around MPs' outside earnings and ending claims for second homes from MPs with constituencies in greater London from 2010. |
| The government also wants MPs to provide receipts to support all expenses claims by removing the current £25 lower threshold. | The government also wants MPs to provide receipts to support all expenses claims by removing the current £25 lower threshold. |
| 'Climbdown' | 'Climbdown' |
| Mr Brown proposes giving a senior group of MPs, the Members Estimate Committee, the power to amend the Green Book governing rules on MPs' expenses. | Mr Brown proposes giving a senior group of MPs, the Members Estimate Committee, the power to amend the Green Book governing rules on MPs' expenses. |
| MPs' staff should be centrally employed by the House of Commons itself, rather than individual members, he added in his letter. | MPs' staff should be centrally employed by the House of Commons itself, rather than individual members, he added in his letter. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said: "What we've seen from the prime minister is a U-turn, followed by a climbdown, and now descending into farce. | Conservative leader David Cameron said: "What we've seen from the prime minister is a U-turn, followed by a climbdown, and now descending into farce. |
| "He is ducking the issue which people want dealt with, which is a cleaned up system of expenses so we stop the business of MPs claiming for televisions, patio heaters and the rest of it." | "He is ducking the issue which people want dealt with, which is a cleaned up system of expenses so we stop the business of MPs claiming for televisions, patio heaters and the rest of it." |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "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." | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "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." |
| 'Clocking on' | 'Clocking on' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 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". |
| Asked on Monday if the plan for a flat-rate allowance was dead, Commons leader Harriet Harman said: "No, not at all." | Asked on Monday if the plan for a flat-rate allowance was dead, 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." | 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." |
| In July all MPs' expenses claims, with receipts, dating back to 2004 are due to be published after a long freedom of information battle. | In July all MPs' expenses claims, with receipts, dating back to 2004 are due to be published after a long freedom of information battle. |