This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8022144.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown under fire on MP expenses | Brown under fire on MP expenses |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown's plan to reform MPs' expenses is becoming a "farce", Tory leader David Cameron has said. | Gordon Brown's plan to reform MPs' expenses is becoming a "farce", Tory leader David Cameron has said. |
| The prime minister's plan - announced to surprise last week - to give MPs a daily attendance allowance has been shelved amid strong criticism. | |
| Instead the second homes expenses issue has been referred back to a standards watchdog's independent inquiry. | Instead the second homes expenses issue has been referred back to a standards watchdog's independent inquiry. |
| Mr Brown said he did not regret making his proposals and there had been "major progress" on other expenses issues. | Mr Brown said he did not regret making his proposals and there had been "major progress" on other expenses issues. |
| That included those to be voted on on Thursday - such as stopping MPs with constituencies within 20 miles of Westminster claiming a second homes allowance, more details of MPs' earnings outside Parliament, making the Commons responsible for employing staff and lowering the threshold on receipts for claims from £25 to zero. | That included those to be voted on on Thursday - such as stopping MPs with constituencies within 20 miles of Westminster claiming a second homes allowance, more details of MPs' earnings outside Parliament, making the Commons responsible for employing staff and lowering the threshold on receipts for claims from £25 to zero. |
| "As far as what is called the additional costs allowance [second homes allowance] is concerned - everybody now agrees that has got to go and be abolished," he said, speaking at a press conference in Poland. | "As far as what is called the additional costs allowance [second homes allowance] is concerned - everybody now agrees that has got to go and be abolished," he said, speaking at a press conference in Poland. |
| 'Very poorly advised' | 'Very poorly advised' |
| Labour MP Stuart Bell earlier told the BBC the prime minister had been "badly advised" by officials in Downing Street. | Labour MP Stuart Bell earlier told the BBC the prime minister had been "badly advised" by officials in Downing Street. |
| He said Mr Brown had made the announcement last week that he wanted changes by July, because he had been told there was an impending "catastrophe" when millions of receipts backing up MPs' claims were published that month. | He said Mr Brown had made the announcement last week that he wanted changes by July, because he had been told there was an impending "catastrophe" when millions of receipts backing up MPs' claims were published that month. |
| All MPs' claims under the most controversial allowance - their second homes expenses - dating back to 2004 are due to be published after the Commons lost a long-running Freedom of Information battle. | All MPs' claims under the most controversial allowance - their second homes expenses - dating back to 2004 are due to be published after the Commons lost a long-running Freedom of Information battle. |
| I thought that Sir Christopher Kelly was going to be independent and I doubt whether he would like taking advice from the House of Commons on this Sir Stuart BellLabour MP MP attendance pay plan abandoned | I thought that Sir Christopher Kelly was going to be independent and I doubt whether he would like taking advice from the House of Commons on this Sir Stuart BellLabour MP MP attendance pay plan abandoned |
| But Sir Stuart said that was an "over-reaction". Another Labour MP Mark Fisher said Mr Brown had been "very poorly advised indeed" and he should "look at some of the quality and experience of some of his advisers in Downing Street". | But Sir Stuart said that was an "over-reaction". Another Labour MP Mark Fisher said Mr Brown had been "very poorly advised indeed" and he should "look at some of the quality and experience of some of his advisers in Downing Street". |
| Mr Fisher said the episode had been "bad" for Mr Brown's authority but said he could recover, but added: "He's got a lot of hard work to do". | Mr Fisher said the episode had been "bad" for Mr Brown's authority but said he could recover, but added: "He's got a lot of hard work to do". |
| After abandoning the plan, Mr Brown wrote on Monday evening to Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the independent committee on standards in public life, and asked him to bring forward his inquiry's findings to July. | After abandoning the plan, Mr Brown wrote on Monday evening to Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the independent committee on standards in public life, and asked him to bring forward his inquiry's findings to July. |
| Some consensus | Some consensus |
| But Sir Christopher, who only began his inquiry last week and had also questioned the daily allowance plan, said the issues were "not simple" and would only commit to completing the review "as early as we can consistent with doing a thorough job". | But Sir Christopher, who only began his inquiry last week and had also questioned the daily allowance plan, said the issues were "not simple" and would only commit to completing the review "as early as we can consistent with doing a thorough job". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the revised plan for Thursday's debate and vote was "the worst of both worlds" as the most important issue had been "kicked into the long grass" and MPs were left to discuss "relatively minor" issues. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the revised plan for Thursday's debate and vote was "the worst of both worlds" as the most important issue had been "kicked into the long grass" and MPs were left to discuss "relatively minor" issues. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell also raised concerns about another motion tabled for Thursday's debate which says of Sir Christopher's inquiry that any new system of allowances should take account of MPs' attendance rates and produce "overall cost savings". | Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell also raised concerns about another motion tabled for Thursday's debate which says of Sir Christopher's inquiry that any new system of allowances should take account of MPs' attendance rates and produce "overall cost savings". |
| Sir Stuart told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "confused". | Sir Stuart told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "confused". |
| "I thought that Sir Christopher Kelly was going to be independent and I doubt whether he would like taking advice from the House of Commons on this." | "I thought that Sir Christopher Kelly was going to be independent and I doubt whether he would like taking advice from the House of Commons on this." |
| Mr Cameron said: "What we've seen from the prime minister is a U-turn, followed by a climbdown, and now descending into farce." | Mr 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." |
| Recent revelations about some MPs and ministers' expenses claims have brought the issue back into the spotlight. | Recent revelations about some MPs and ministers' expenses claims have brought the issue back into the spotlight. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and minister Tony McNulty are both being investigated over their second homes expenses claims - both say they acted within the rules. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and minister Tony McNulty are both being investigated over their second homes expenses claims - both say they acted within the rules. |