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Speaker angry over expenses leak Speaker angry over expenses leak
(40 minutes later)
Speaker Michael Martin has said MPs should not just "work to the rules" in their expenses claims but should consider "the spirit of what is right".Speaker Michael Martin has said MPs should not just "work to the rules" in their expenses claims but should consider "the spirit of what is right".
After days of revelations in the Daily Telegraph about MPs' claims, he said there must be "serious change" to the much-criticised system. "Serious change" was needed to restore public trust, he said after revelations in the Daily Telegraph which published details of leaked expenses claims.
A new operational assurance unit would start "shortly" to oversee claims. He attacked MPs who asked why police were looking for the source, whom he described as a possible security risk.
He slapped down MPs who criticised the decision to call in the police, saying the leaker could not be left "in situ". Gordon Brown has apologised for "all parties" for "mistakes" in MPs' claims.
He said the House was advised against seeking an injunction against publication but had been right to ask police to investigate as the leaker could release further private information. The House of Commons Commission, a supervisory body, will meet later to discuss whether all MPs' expenses details should now be published, ahead of the scheduled publication in July.
'Pearls of wisdom' It follows days of damaging stories in the Daily Telegraph, which has published details of Labour ministers' and Tory frontbenchers' claims.
MPs were concerned that private details like bank accounts and passwords might be published, he said. 'Bad day'
Labour MP Kate Hoey raised concerns that, as the newspaper had chosen to black out sensitive details like addresses, asking the police to investigate was "an awful waste" of police resources and suggested MPs had something to hide. On Monday the newspaper concentrated on senior Conservatives, including more than £2,000 claimed by policy chief Oliver Letwin to replace a leaking pipe under a tennis court.
But an annoyed Mr Martin said he had late at night heard her "pearls of wisdom on Sky News". It also reported that shadow Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude had claimed nearly £35,000 in mortgage payments on a flat close to a house he rented out.
There have also been revelations that claims were made by MPs for items including dog food and a lawnmower.
We're in a climate now where any nonsense can be written about anybody and it is dragging us all down Chris MullinLabour MP Brown apology over MPs' expenses Expenses focus turns on Tory MPsWe're in a climate now where any nonsense can be written about anybody and it is dragging us all down Chris MullinLabour MP Brown apology over MPs' expenses Expenses focus turns on Tory MPs
"It's easy to talk then," he said. Conservative leader David Cameron acknowledged that the latest revelations meant "another bad day for Parliament and, frankly, a bad day for the Conservative Party".
"Is it the case that an employee of this House should be able to hand over any private data to any organisation of his or her choosing?" Millions of receipts backing up all MPs' claims under the £24,000-a-year second homes allowance were due to be published in July, after the Commons lost a Freedom of Information case.
He added: "It's easy to say to the press this should not happen - it's a wee bit more difficult when you just don't have to give quotes to the press and do nothing else. Some of us in this house have other responsibilities other than talking to the press." But the Telegraph got hold of the details early and has been publishing selected claims over the past few days.
He also told off Lib Dem Norman Baker - who has long campaigned for greater transparency on MPs expenses - as "another member who is keen to say to the press what the press wants to hear". Mr Martin told MPs said the House had been advised against seeking an injunction against publication but had been right to ask police to investigate as the leaker could release further private information.
MPs were concerned that private details like bank accounts and passwords might be published, he said.
'Pearls of wisdom'
Labour MP Kate Hoey said, as the newspaper had chosen to black out sensitive details like addresses, asking the police to investigate was "an awful waste" of police resources and suggested MPs had something to hide.
But an annoyed Mr Martin said he had already heard her "pearls of wisdom on Sky News".
He added: "Is it the case that an employee of this House should be able to hand over any private data to any organisation of his or her choosing?"
FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from The World At One
"It's easy to say to the press this should not happen - it's a wee bit more difficult when you just don't have to give quotes to the press and do nothing else."
He also told off Lib Dem Norman Baker - who has long campaigned for greater transparency on MPs' expenses - as "another member who is keen to say to the press what the press wants to hear".
'Citizens' juries''Citizens' juries'
He was annoyed that Mr Baker, he said, had suggested the Commission had "done nothing" - pointing out that it had made recommendations for reform last year and MPs had voted against them. He was angry that Mr Baker, he said, had suggested the commission had "done nothing" - pointing out that it had made recommendations for reform last year and MPs had voted against them.
Mr Martin said the supervisory body, the House of Commons Commission, would be meeting later to discuss whether all MPs' expenses details should be released as soon as possible - ahead of their expected publication in July. Tory former minister Ann Widdecombe urged MPs to "keep our heads" and not rush to publish all claims, as officials were still going through paperwork and blacking out credit card numbers and private addresses.
Former health secretary Patricia Hewitt said MPs could not blame the media for the situation and asked for "citizens' juries" to be set up to consider MPs' salaries and expenses. The House of Commons has run itself as if MPs can and should be assumed to be honourable and, by implication, better than those they govern Nick RobinsonBBC political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/05/honourable_no_m.html">Read Nick's blog in full class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/2009/05/how_mps_could_have_avoided_foi.html">Read the Open Secrets blog
It is important that the spirit of what is right must be brought in now Michael MartinCommons speaker Mr Martin told MPs a new operational assurance unit would start "shortly" to oversee claims - something MPs had already voted through in January.
Sources have indicated that there is no agreement yet on a proposal for independent external auditing of MPs' expenses by a private company.
But Mr Martin assured the Commons there was "no intention" that, should it be agreed, it would put an end to freedom of information inquiries about their claims.
Former health secretary Patricia Hewitt said MPs could not blame the media for the situation and asked for "citizens' juries" to be set up to consider their salaries and expenses.
The Labour former minister Chris Mullin asked the Speaker to consider rebutting some "falsehoods" including a suggestion that MPs are "subject to special tax treatment".The Labour former minister Chris Mullin asked the Speaker to consider rebutting some "falsehoods" including a suggestion that MPs are "subject to special tax treatment".
"We're in a climate now where any nonsense can be written about anybody and it is dragging us all down," "We're in a climate now where any nonsense can be written about anybody and it is dragging us all down."
Mr Martin promised to raise the matter with the Commons Commission on Monday evening.Mr Martin promised to raise the matter with the Commons Commission on Monday evening.
He also said there was "no intention" that introducing a private body to audit MPs' expenses would put an end to Freedom of Information inquiries about their claims. Earlier Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said MPs had to be stopped from "making a penny of profit from, in effect, playing the property market".
Several MPs whose claims have been revealed by the Daily Telegraph over the last few days have responded saying they acted within the rules of the expenses system - but agreed the system had to change. Several MPs whose claims have been revealed by the Daily Telegraph over the last few days have responded by saying they acted within the rules of the expenses system - but agreed the system had to change.
In a statement in the Commons, Mr Martin said changes had already been made with more to come. Mr Martin told MPs changes had already been made with more to come.
But he added: "Working to the rules and the rules alone isn't what is expected of any honourable Member," he told them. But he added: "Working to the rules and the rules alone isn't what is expected of any honourable member.
"It is important that the spirit of what is right must be brought in now.""It is important that the spirit of what is right must be brought in now."
Earlier Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of all parties for "mistakes" made by MPs in their second homes claims - following revelations that leading MPs have entered invoices for items including dog food and a lawnmower. Earlier Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on behalf of all parties for "mistakes" made by MPs in their second homes claims.
Mr Cameron said: "We have to acknowledge just how bad this is. The public are really angry and we have to start by saying, look, this system that we had, that we used, that we operated, that we took part in - it was wrong and we're sorry about it."