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| MPs back allowances reform plans | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The government has won a series of votes on the surviving parts of Gordon Brown's proposed expenses reforms. | The government has won a series of votes on the surviving parts of Gordon Brown's proposed expenses reforms. |
| During a heated debate many MPs called for all changes to be left until after the conclusion of an independent inquiry into the system. | |
| But plans were passed to stop claims by London MPs for second homes, for receipts to back up all claims and to publish details of second job payments. | But plans were passed to stop claims by London MPs for second homes, for receipts to back up all claims and to publish details of second job payments. |
| Mr Brown said they were the "biggest changes in 25 years" to expenses. | Mr Brown said they were the "biggest changes in 25 years" to expenses. |
| But the Conservatives said it was a "tragedy" that there had been no nationwide reform to second homes allowances, which have been the subject of controversy in recent months. | |
| Despite concerns, MPs also voted on Thursday to make the Commons authorities responsible for employing their workers, subject to a review. | |
| Gurkha shock | Gurkha shock |
| All changes are temporary, as they come ahead of a more thorough review of MPs' expenses by Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life - which will publish its findings later this year. | All changes are temporary, as they come ahead of a more thorough review of MPs' expenses by Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life - which will publish its findings later this year. |
| The votes were seen as a test of the prime minister's authority - a day after the government suffered a shock defeat over its policy on the settlement rights of Gurkhas. | The votes were seen as a test of the prime minister's authority - a day after the government suffered a shock defeat over its policy on the settlement rights of Gurkhas. |
| 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 | 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 Commons agreed to give a senior group of MPs, the Members Estimate Committee, the power to amend the Green Book governing rules on MPs' expenses. | The Commons agreed to give a senior group of MPs, the Members Estimate Committee, the power to amend the Green Book governing rules on MPs' expenses. |
| Mr Brown had argued the changes were needed immediately but many MPs said they should await the results of Sir Christopher's independent inquiry, expected by the autumn. | |
| The prime minister's main proposal, for a daily parliamentary attendance allowance to replace second homes expenses for all MPs, was dropped on Monday amid widespread opposition. | |
| This happened less than a week after the plan was announced on the Downing Street website the day before the Budget. | |
| 'Transitional' | |
| At the start of Thursday's Commons debate, the government agreed to remove references in another motion for the independent inquiry to be told to take account of MPs' "attendance at Westminster". | |
| Prior to the series of votes, 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 all those representing seats within 20 miles of Parliament will only be entitled to the £7,500 London allowance. | |
| Authority is ebbing away from this government by the day David Cameron, Conservatives | |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, the government has referred the matter to the House of Commons Commission - which is responsible for staff's terms of employment - to consider any "transitional provisions which may be necessary" by 20 October. | However, the government has referred the matter to the House of Commons Commission - which is responsible for staff's terms of employment - to consider any "transitional provisions which may be necessary" by 20 October. |
| After the votes, Mr Brown said: "Since I've been in the House of Commons these are the major changes, the biggest changes I've seen over these 25 years." | After the votes, Mr Brown said: "Since I've been in the House of Commons these are the major changes, the biggest changes I've seen over these 25 years." |
| He went on: "We have made the first steps to save money for the taxpayers. My job is to listen to the members of the public and hear what they are saying. | |
| "They wanted the system cleaned up. The system is now being cleaned up." | |
| But Conservative leader David Cameron said the decisions amounted to "another humiliating defeat" for the PM's authority. | |
| He added: "Only a week ago he came up with his big idea on YouTube which was to pay MPs to turn up and do their job. | |
| "Today, under pressure from all sides, he had to withdraw any idea that that was going to happen. | |
| "Authority is ebbing away from this government by the day and the tragedy is that the real reform that's needed hasn't been put in place." |