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Brown apology over MPs' expenses | |
(10 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown has said "mistakes" were made by MPs in their use of House of Commons expenses. | |
The prime minister apologised on behalf of all political parties for some of the claims made and said public trust must be restored "immediately". | |
His comments follow revelations that leading MPs had entered invoices for items including dog food, light bulbs, mock Tudor beams and a lawnmower. | His comments follow revelations that leading MPs had entered invoices for items including dog food, light bulbs, mock Tudor beams and a lawnmower. |
Tory leader David Cameron has urged MPs to say "sorry" for the expenses system. | Tory leader David Cameron has urged MPs to say "sorry" for the expenses system. |
Plans to set up an independent auditing body for claims are expected to be outlined on Monday. | |
'Wrongs righted' | |
The Telegraph has been running leaks, so far mainly relating to Labour and Conservative MPs. | |
Speaking at the Royal College of Nursing conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Mr Brown said: "We must show that, where mistakes have been made and errors have been discovered, where wrongs have to be righted, that it is done so immediately." | |
Among the latest Telegraph revelations, it is reported that shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan recouped £4,000 for gardening costs - including overhauling a ride-on lawnmower - and that shadow universities secretary David Willetts' claimed more than £100 for workmen to replace 25 light bulbs at his home. | |
Over the weekend, it revealed that tourism minister Barbara Follett had claimed more than £25,000 for security at her home. | |
Immigration minister Phil Woolas has threatened legal action over "disgusting" allegations he claimed for women's clothing, nappies and comics. | |
Campaign | |
Plans for an independent auditing body to oversee expenses claims are expected to be approved on Monday, following weeks of damaging stories. | |
Senior Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell said the Commons would be asked to approve the body, made up entirely of independent people. | |
It would analyse "every claim that is made", he added. | |
The Commons fees office is overseen by a committee made up of MPs and independent people - who in turn are overseen by the National Audit Office. | |
The new body would be entirely independent and cost about £600,000 a year to run. | |
Millions of receipts backing up all MPs' expenses claims under the second homes allowance were due to be published in July after a long Freedom of Information campaign. | |
But details have been leaked to the Telegraph - which has been publishing selected excerpts over the last few days. |