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MPs vote for changes to expenses | MPs vote for changes to expenses |
(10 minutes later) | |
The government has won the first two votes on the surviving parts of Gordon Brown's proposed expenses reforms. | The government has won the first two votes on the surviving parts of Gordon Brown's proposed expenses reforms. |
MPs voted to stop all London MPs claiming second homes expenses and to oblige MPs to give more details of earnings outside Parliament. | MPs voted to stop all London MPs claiming second homes expenses and to oblige MPs to give more details of earnings outside Parliament. |
A bid to block plans to make the House of Commons, not MPs, responsible for employing their staff has also failed. | |
It follows a heated four-hour Commons debate over reforms proposed by Gordon Brown two weeks ago. | It follows a heated four-hour Commons debate over reforms proposed by Gordon Brown two weeks ago. |
He says the changes are needed now but many MPs say they should await the results of an independent inquiry. | He says the changes are needed now but many MPs say they should await the results of an independent inquiry. |
But Mr Brown's main proposal for a daily attendance allowance, announced on the Downing Street website the day before the Budget, was dropped days ago amid widespread opposition. | |
There was disbelief on all sides of the chamber as Commons leader Harriet Harman explained the government's strategy BBC's Ben Wright What were the MPs arguing about? 'Lunacy' attack over MP expenses | |
The government also agreed at the start of the debate to remove references in another motion for the independent inquiry to be told to take account of MPs' "attendance at Westminster". | The government also agreed at the start of the debate to remove references in another motion for the independent inquiry to be told to take account of MPs' "attendance at Westminster". |
Previously all MPs outside inner London could claim the second homes allowance, worth up to £24,000 a year, even if they lived within commuting distance of Westminster. | Previously all MPs outside inner London could claim the second homes allowance, worth up to £24,000 a year, even if they lived within commuting distance of Westminster. |
Now MPs representing seats within 20 miles of Parliament will only be entitled to the £7,500 London allowance. | Now MPs representing seats within 20 miles of Parliament will only be entitled to the £7,500 London allowance. |
Others proposals being voted on now include requiring receipts for all claims and changing the employment status of MPs' staff so they are on the House of Commons payroll. The government won the first vote by 355 to 39 and the second jobs vote by 305 to 31 votes. | |
Many MPs, including Labour backbenchers, had raised concerns about plans to change their staff's employment status. | |
But a bid to stop the change failed by 285 votes to 96. |