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| Expenses: What the parties want | Expenses: What the parties want |
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| Britain's political leaders all now agree that MPs expenses need reform - but significant differences remain on what needs to be done. Here is what the three main UK parties are proposing - followed by some of your ideas. | Britain's political leaders all now agree that MPs expenses need reform - but significant differences remain on what needs to be done. Here is what the three main UK parties are proposing - followed by some of your ideas. |
| Labour Conservatives Lib Dems Your ideas | Labour Conservatives Lib Dems Your ideas |
| LABOUR | LABOUR |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants all MPs' expenses for the past four years to be independently reviewed - and those who have broken the rules to pay the money back. He has also called for a "radical" and swift overhaul of the system to make it "wholly fair". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants all MPs' expenses for the past four years to be independently reviewed - and those who have broken the rules to pay the money back. He has also called for a "radical" and swift overhaul of the system to make it "wholly fair". |
| But across-the-board changes can only be decided by MPs themselves. | But across-the-board changes can only be decided by MPs themselves. |
| Commons leader Harriet Harman has asked the cross-party members' allowances committee, chaired by Labour MP Don Touhig, to draw up proposals. | Commons leader Harriet Harman has asked the cross-party members' allowances committee, chaired by Labour MP Don Touhig, to draw up proposals. |
| So far it has agreed on three changes: | So far it has agreed on three changes: |
| • An immediate ban on MPs claiming for furniture, white goods and fixtures and fittings until an independent committee reports later in the year. The second home allowance will be limited to household bills such as rent, mortgage, council tax and utilities. | • An immediate ban on MPs claiming for furniture, white goods and fixtures and fittings until an independent committee reports later in the year. The second home allowance will be limited to household bills such as rent, mortgage, council tax and utilities. |
| • A ban on home "flipping". MPs will have to say which is their second home at the beginning of each Parliament and stick to it unless their personal circumstances change significantly | • A ban on home "flipping". MPs will have to say which is their second home at the beginning of each Parliament and stick to it unless their personal circumstances change significantly |
| • MPs selling homes will not be able to avoid capital gains tax by telling Revenue and Customs one thing and the Commons another about which is their second home | • MPs selling homes will not be able to avoid capital gains tax by telling Revenue and Customs one thing and the Commons another about which is their second home |
| The committee has yet to agree on whether the amount claimable as mortgage interest rate should be capped. | The committee has yet to agree on whether the amount claimable as mortgage interest rate should be capped. |
| The proposals will have to be approved by another group of MPs - the members' estimates committee, chaired by Speaker Michael Martin - before coming into effect. | The proposals will have to be approved by another group of MPs - the members' estimates committee, chaired by Speaker Michael Martin - before coming into effect. |
| They are, however, only interim measures aimed at calming public anger until more widespread reforms can be brought in later this year, following the recommendations of the committee on standards in public life, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. | They are, however, only interim measures aimed at calming public anger until more widespread reforms can be brought in later this year, following the recommendations of the committee on standards in public life, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly. |
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| CONSERVATIVES | CONSERVATIVES |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has backed Gordon Brown's call for an independent review of past expenses - but has called for action now on reforming the system. | Conservative leader David Cameron has backed Gordon Brown's call for an independent review of past expenses - but has called for action now on reforming the system. |
| Mr Cameron, who says the issue is whether claims were "morally, ethically" right rather than whether they were within flawed rules, has brought in new rules for his own MPs - and ordered key members of his frontbench team repay thousands of pounds in excessive expenses or face the sack. | Mr Cameron, who says the issue is whether claims were "morally, ethically" right rather than whether they were within flawed rules, has brought in new rules for his own MPs - and ordered key members of his frontbench team repay thousands of pounds in excessive expenses or face the sack. |
| The Tory leader plans to: | The Tory leader plans to: |
| • Set up a scrutiny committee to examine Tory MPs' expense claims in the past and future. Those who refuse to repay excessive claims would be thrown out of the party. | • Set up a scrutiny committee to examine Tory MPs' expense claims in the past and future. Those who refuse to repay excessive claims would be thrown out of the party. |
| • Reaffirmed existing Tory policy that in future only rent, mortgage bills and council tax bills will be claimed by Conservative MPs | • Reaffirmed existing Tory policy that in future only rent, mortgage bills and council tax bills will be claimed by Conservative MPs |
| • Ban "flipping" of homes for Tory MPs | • Ban "flipping" of homes for Tory MPs |
| He has also said that if a Tory MP sells a house for which they have claimed mortgage interest payments, they would have to pay Capital Gains Tax. | He has also said that if a Tory MP sells a house for which they have claimed mortgage interest payments, they would have to pay Capital Gains Tax. |
| He has also urged greater transparency. In future, Mr Cameron's frontbench team, and then all Tory MPs, will have to publish their expense claims online as they happen - something he wants to see extended to MPs of all parties. | He has also urged greater transparency. In future, Mr Cameron's frontbench team, and then all Tory MPs, will have to publish their expense claims online as they happen - something he wants to see extended to MPs of all parties. |
| He has also called for MPs annual £10,000 communication allowance, brought in two years ago to help MPs stay in touch with their constituents, to be scrapped. | He has also called for MPs annual £10,000 communication allowance, brought in two years ago to help MPs stay in touch with their constituents, to be scrapped. |
| The Tories have backed Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review and said they will study the findings carefully when they are released later this year. | The Tories have backed Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review and said they will study the findings carefully when they are released later this year. |
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| LIBERAL DEMOCRATS | LIBERAL DEMOCRATS |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg backs the reform of second homes allowances but is urging Gordon Brown to go much further. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg backs the reform of second homes allowances but is urging Gordon Brown to go much further. |
| He wants to stop taxpayer-funded mortgages to prevent MPs "playing the property market". MPs would instead be forced to rent accommodation if they needed a second home. | He wants to stop taxpayer-funded mortgages to prevent MPs "playing the property market". MPs would instead be forced to rent accommodation if they needed a second home. |
| Lib Dem MPs who have profited from the sale of second homes have been ordered to pay the money back. | Lib Dem MPs who have profited from the sale of second homes have been ordered to pay the money back. |
| Under the Lib Dem scheme: | Under the Lib Dem scheme: |
| • An immediate ban on MPs using their allowances to buy property | • An immediate ban on MPs using their allowances to buy property |
| • A period of 36 months after which no further expenditure will be permitted in support of mortgage interest payments | • A period of 36 months after which no further expenditure will be permitted in support of mortgage interest payments |
| • Accommodation allowances would be restricted to rental agreements, utility bills, and council tax only | • Accommodation allowances would be restricted to rental agreements, utility bills, and council tax only |
| • Payment of personal accommodation expenditure would be on the basis of the production of bills and rental agreement only. | • Payment of personal accommodation expenditure would be on the basis of the production of bills and rental agreement only. |
| Designation of first and second homes would be independently approved to ensure that payments reflect the necessary circumstances of MPs in fulfilling their parliamentary duties and value for money to the tax payer. | Designation of first and second homes would be independently approved to ensure that payments reflect the necessary circumstances of MPs in fulfilling their parliamentary duties and value for money to the tax payer. |
| Like the other two party leaders, Mr Clegg backs Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review. | Like the other two party leaders, Mr Clegg backs Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review. |
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| AND HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR IDEAS | AND HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR IDEAS |
| Thanks for all of your many suggestions. Here is a selection of the more eye-catching ideas: | |
| The expenses need to be sorted as part of a wider review of parliament. | |
| 1. Reduce number of MPs by 1/3. | |
| 2. Remaining MP's to get a 15% pay rise. | |
| 3. Taxpayers contribution to MP's pensions reduced to 10% from current 30% with increased contributions by MP's. | |
| 4. Travel costs to be reimbursed based on receipts up to a maximum value equivalent to standard walk on rail fare. | |
| 5. Accomodation costs to be met (either rental or mortgage interest) up to a maximum of £20,000 pa for time away from constituency. | |
| 6. Parliament to designate second homes. | |
| 7. Any MP who claims for mortgage interest on property would have to repay monies claimed from capital gain upon sale in addition to CGT on sale of property. | |
| 8. No expenses claims allowed for furnishings, food, sky tv etc.Andy, Wakefield, UK | |
| Firstly, changes to the MPs expenses does not need to be an extended process. We are only talking about 600 odd people so this isn't anything like on a par with multi-nationals who employ thousands of staff. This could be sorted out in a few hours by the leaders of each party sitting down and deciding on a common sense approach. | |
| Secondly, why can't MPs who have excessive commuting requirements be allocated residential apartments in the London area at a purpose built cluster. This could provide substantial job gains for the local area - remember we have MPs who are currently commuting comfortably from Reading so this doesn't even have to be within the M25 but within easy access. Furniture requirements for each MP could come from a central store and be returned if an MP loses his seat, resigns etc. Each MP would only be able to get furniture from this central repository. | |
| Thirdly, if MPs have purchased for White Goods and furniture on expenses then surely if they lose their seat this stuff should revert to the common purse and could be then used for charitable purposes. A few dozen TVs at the best part of 1 thousand pounds a pop could work wonders in hostels, hospitals etc. Chris Hill, Wallingford, UK | |
| There's quite a lot of military accommodation in central London, most of it unused because the occupants are elsewhere at the moment. If MPs used that then we could solve the problems of sub-standard military accommodation, security and MPs expenses all in in one go.Andrew Watson, Milton Keynes, UK | |
| Scrap all allowances for "second homes" immediately. Reimburse for overnight accommodation for those unwilling/unable to commute - though in today's age of high speed rail links most of their journeys woul appear very reasonable. They only attend parliament two or three times a week which certainly does not justify buying "second homes" at tax payers expense.R.F.Yorks, Yorks, UK | |
| I think they should build a high rise for the MPs to stay in when they are in london then all they need to claim for would be travel. Their staff should be employed through the same ways and means that the public are employed by offices etc.Becci, southport | |
| What needs to happen now: | |
| 1) Give the MP's a comparable wage based on industry/business standards. Director level. £100k ? | |
| 2) Ministers rates should be based on CEO levels. £150k ? | |
| 3) The Prime Ministers rate should be set at 20% above the Ministers rates. £200k ? | |
| Expenses: and they ARE expenses not an allowance. | |
| A model exists within the Civil service and among council staff to claim reimbursements within a set of strict guidelines, that model should be used until such time as the rules have been set, agreed and brought into use. | |
| Second home allowances should be ended regardless. | |
| Expenses should be paid for the average cost of a 3 star Hotel in central London, the Government could negotiate a special rate with the major hotel chains the same as large business does. | |
| Grace and Favour homes should be accounted for by a separate body and under a completely separate set of rules. Any Minister with a Grace and Favour residence should not be allowed any expenses for hotel stays in London. | |
| MP's inside the M25 should not be allowed any Hotel expenses for their nights in London, unless it is incurred due to late work,a conference (committee) or a late sitting of the House. | |
| Receipts should be required for all expense claims.Stewart Dunbar, Bardford Yorkshire | |
| I think it is impossible to improve on our current system: you can claim whatever you want as an MP, you will be reimbursed on anything you claim, and then under FoI we -- the public -- get to decide whether it was justified. If it wasn't, then the money is repaid. | |
| Simple, cheap, and very, very, effective! | |
| So, receipts for everthing, and no redaction, and publication on the parliamentary website and the MP's personal website within one month of the claim being submitted. | |
| David Lester, Manchester | |
| Use standard HMRC rules for payment of expenses. Provide accommodation (the 2012 Olymic Village once the athletes have gone would be ideal) for anyone who lives too far away to commute. Office costs including secretarial support to be provided in Westminster centrally rather than by an allowance. And the fundemental rule: if your employer buys something you need to do your job, that thing remains your employer's property when you leave that job.Megan, Cheshire UK | |
| Whatever they do get in future should be the same as awarded to Nurses, Teachers, etc - nothing more. If they can 'grab' extra allowance, then everyone else should be allowed to - treat them the same as everyone else in the country. As for paying family to do admin work, it should be capped at realistic levels, some currently get more than a Teacher earns just for opening letters!Dave Evans, Carlisle | |
| Move Parliament to Corby, lock stock and barrel. It is in the centre of the UK and it has reasonable rail and road links. All MPs can have a one bedroom penthouse in a communal block near the new parliament building. (If they want some other alternative accommodation in Corby for their children/spouses etc they can find and pay for it themselves). Such an arrangement will help the economy of Corby and free up valuable land space and accommodation in London for the needy. After all the European Parliament is in Strasbourg, and works perfectly well for Europe. Why not have the UK Parliament in Corby?Moosa, London | |
| Cut the number of MPs and give them a Hall of residence to use when in London and Full video and Computer link from their constituency, Stop council tax refunds, and give them a set ring fenced Budget to cover expenses. | |
| No second homes allowed, and no husband and wife team allowed to claim twice, on any costs Use computor technology to perform voting in the house there is no need to be there now adays, and this will cut attendance costs to the tax payer.jim evans, brighton | |
| The MP's are obviously not up to submitting expenses that are wholly for their work (as laid out in the rule book). The fees office is clearly not up to the job either, so scrap all allowances, when they are in London, they can stay in a hotel (like most business people do when away from home). Review their salary to establish that enough people can be MP's and not just the independently wealthy. Then call an election and let the people decide who they want to sort the rest of the mess out!Chris, Axminster UK | |
| Whilst I applaud David Cameron's swift action he has not gone far enough, and I like the Lib Dem's proposal that MPs should not profit at all from capital gains where they have had their mortgage interest paid. As for GB - forget it!! | |
| The answer is that property should only be rented - with a cap on the amount of rent (my son pays about a grand a month for a reasonable place in a decent part of Dulwich). | |
| Better would be, so that MPs can communicate easily with each other, a central London building which can be converted into units - the government must have some spare properties. This would mean that there would not be the need for claims for second property utility bills, council tax, rent, furnishings (all would be furnished to a reasonable standard with "office" needs). | |
| This would mean that the constituency house would always be the "main residence". | |
| Food should not be payable. They'd be buying it at home anyway. Bob, Kent | |
| Comfortable furnished and serviced 'courtesy' apartment for qualifying MPs within a short distance of Westminster. Purchased, managed and maintained to a defined standard by an accountable property management company. Fixed furnishing and equipping allowance on occupancy. Or a hotel room to a defined maximum. | |
| First class rail, standard class flights, 'regular' private hire taxi or AA/RAC recommended mileage allowance for own cars for travelling on constituency or parliamentary duties only. Local (constituency or Westminster) public transport or 'black cab' fares. | |
| Modest daily food and drink (not alcohol) subsistence when working away from constituency. | |
| That's basically all they need and what most of us who travel for work get and shouldn't leave them out of pocket. Anything else, they pay. | |
| If they want and use a 2nd purchased or mortgaged home, nothing.Tony T, Southampton | |
| First of all, the MPs earn a salary that should be sufficient to pay their cable, internet, etc, bills. The only expenses that should be allowed to be recovered are rental agreements, utility bills, and council tax. Why they have to buy properties? A hotel should be designated just in case that they have to go to London.Peter, Hampshire | |
| Save money by not having Scottish MPs at Westminster. You could also include all the extra expenses with the MPs pay and the thy would at least be paying the correct amount of tax. Thus back to the general public whare the money came from in the first place. Mr Brown does not seem to remember that.David, North Hykeham | Save money by not having Scottish MPs at Westminster. You could also include all the extra expenses with the MPs pay and the thy would at least be paying the correct amount of tax. Thus back to the general public whare the money came from in the first place. Mr Brown does not seem to remember that.David, North Hykeham |
| Let's have fewer MPs. Give them a digital link to parliament so they stay and work 95% of the time in their constituency. Lets hear less braying from the House of Commons - if they want to speak their microphone connection is made by the Speaker's staff - so we don't hear the yobs. If they need to attend the House (why?) then they can occasionally stay in a hotel.Frank, Wellington, Shrops England | Let's have fewer MPs. Give them a digital link to parliament so they stay and work 95% of the time in their constituency. Lets hear less braying from the House of Commons - if they want to speak their microphone connection is made by the Speaker's staff - so we don't hear the yobs. If they need to attend the House (why?) then they can occasionally stay in a hotel.Frank, Wellington, Shrops England |
| Why has no-one asked an MP why expenses need to exist at all. MPs who need to be in London can stay in designated hotels on a bed and breakfast and evening meal basis and rail fares can be paid to and from London. Hotel Bills would be submitted to the fees office direct by the hotel. This seems a perfectly reasonable suggestion and I would be interested in hearing arguments for and against this proposal.Alan, Preston | Why has no-one asked an MP why expenses need to exist at all. MPs who need to be in London can stay in designated hotels on a bed and breakfast and evening meal basis and rail fares can be paid to and from London. Hotel Bills would be submitted to the fees office direct by the hotel. This seems a perfectly reasonable suggestion and I would be interested in hearing arguments for and against this proposal.Alan, Preston |
| Make use of the Olympic Village flats which we own. Similar to Alan of Preston's suggestion, except a second home would be offered at a standard rent, rather than hotel accomodation. No modifications allowed - only reasonable repairs, itemised and scrutinised. Easy travel to Westminster, not subsidised as it should be seen as reasonable MP's pay something for their travel. This way there would be no profits made at all.Mike, Portsmouth | |
| Regarding the expenses row an intelligent solution would be to remove expenses allowances altogether and have purpose built accommodation for 'second home' purposes. Salaries to be properly evaluated on the basis of actual responsibility levels and what they measurably achieve for the tax payer.Steve, Bristol | Regarding the expenses row an intelligent solution would be to remove expenses allowances altogether and have purpose built accommodation for 'second home' purposes. Salaries to be properly evaluated on the basis of actual responsibility levels and what they measurably achieve for the tax payer.Steve, Bristol |
| Put them all on the dole and housing benefit for 3 months, then pay them £20,000 for the rest of the year - then they might be able to empathise with the majority of people in the country and actually start doing something to help real peopleMartin, London | Put them all on the dole and housing benefit for 3 months, then pay them £20,000 for the rest of the year - then they might be able to empathise with the majority of people in the country and actually start doing something to help real peopleMartin, London |
| I live in Widnes and work in Manchester. Therefore can I start submitting all my out of pocket costs? I haven't got a moat to clean unfortunately! What a disgrace. They should have an allocated "home" or flat in London paid for by their constituency and that's it. That way the constituency profits if it wants to sell and relocate the property, not the individual. Danny, Widnes | I live in Widnes and work in Manchester. Therefore can I start submitting all my out of pocket costs? I haven't got a moat to clean unfortunately! What a disgrace. They should have an allocated "home" or flat in London paid for by their constituency and that's it. That way the constituency profits if it wants to sell and relocate the property, not the individual. Danny, Widnes |
| I agree with Steve from Bristol, let's have purpose-built accommodation for those who have to stay over in London. Most people who travel for their companies and have to stay over, get a basic cost of staying over allowance, we don't get an extra home allowance and neither should MP's. A bed to sleep in plus breakfast is all that is needed, we shouldn't be paying to redecorate their homes etc. Talk about fat cats, these must be the fattest of all.Shirley, Tunbridge Wells | |
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