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MPs' 'gentlemen's club must end' MPs' 'gentlemen's club must end'
(about 2 hours later)
Centuries of self-regulation by MPs must end and an independent body set up to oversee Members of Parliament, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.Centuries of self-regulation by MPs must end and an independent body set up to oversee Members of Parliament, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.
He said Westminster "can't operate like some gentlemen's club" in which MPs are "judge and jury" of "pay and rations".He said Westminster "can't operate like some gentlemen's club" in which MPs are "judge and jury" of "pay and rations".
It follows a meeting of party leaders about how to bring in interim changes to the much criticism expenses system.It follows a meeting of party leaders about how to bring in interim changes to the much criticism expenses system.
The PM said an independent body would authorise claims under a new system agreed with fellow party leaders. Tory leader David Cameron backed the reforms but said an immediate general election was needed.
But Conservative leader David Cameron said a general election was needed so that the public could pass judgement on their MPs. He told BBC News: "I have been arguing for all these changes we have to make but the prime minister is just blocking the public out.
The prime minister's remarks follow damaging revelations in the Daily Telegraph based on leaked receipts of MPs' claims and comes just two hours after Speaker Michael Martin announced he would step down - amid pressure over his handling of the expenses issue. "He is behaving as if he is just running this gentlemen's club.
"What we need to do is ask people to be involved. That means we have got to have a general election. This Parliament has sat for too long. It's members have lost touch. Its government is completely paralysed."
It was totally unacceptable behaviour, I don't support it Gordon Brown on Hazel Blears Speaker quits 'for sake of unity' Met will not probe expenses leak Brown warns Labour rule-breakers
The cross party agreement on new expenses rules includes a £1,250 a month cap on rent or mortgage payments, a ban on "flipping" of designated second homes to maximise earnings and claiming for furniture and stamp duty.
It follows damaging revelations in the Daily Telegraph based on leaked receipts of MPs' claims and comes just two hours after Speaker Michael Martin announced he would step down - amid pressure over his handling of the expenses issue.
'Fundamental rethink''Fundamental rethink'
Mr Brown's proposal would mean the new Speaker would have a much different role, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said.Mr Brown's proposal would mean the new Speaker would have a much different role, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said.
At a press conference after the meeting with Speaker Michael Martin and the leaders of major and minority parties, Mr Brown said: "I believe that the keystone of any reform must be to switch from self-regulation to independent external regulation."At a press conference after the meeting with Speaker Michael Martin and the leaders of major and minority parties, Mr Brown said: "I believe that the keystone of any reform must be to switch from self-regulation to independent external regulation."
He added: "Westminster cannot operate like some gentleman's club where the members make up the rules and operate them among themselves.He added: "Westminster cannot operate like some gentleman's club where the members make up the rules and operate them among themselves.
It was totally unacceptable behaviour, I don't support it Gordon Brown on Hazel Blears Speaker quits 'for sake of unity' Met will not probe expenses leak Brown warns Labour rule-breakers
"If MPs continue to set their own codes and rules, however objectively they try to do so, the public will always question the transparency and the standards that they rightly demand.""If MPs continue to set their own codes and rules, however objectively they try to do so, the public will always question the transparency and the standards that they rightly demand."
Mr Brown said the government would make legislative time available for votes on MPs' salaries and allowances to be devolved to an outside body.Mr Brown said the government would make legislative time available for votes on MPs' salaries and allowances to be devolved to an outside body.
He said all opposition parties had "welcomed in principle" a switch to independent regulation.He said all opposition parties had "welcomed in principle" a switch to independent regulation.
Mr Brown was asked about an announcement earlier that Labour MPs who had "defied the rules" would not be allowed to stand for re-election.Mr Brown was asked about an announcement earlier that Labour MPs who had "defied the rules" would not be allowed to stand for re-election.
He denied that the looseness of the rules meant, effectively, none may be punished - pointing out two MPs, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, had already been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party.He denied that the looseness of the rules meant, effectively, none may be punished - pointing out two MPs, Elliot Morley and David Chaytor, had already been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Asked about Communities Secretary Hazel Blears' failure to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the flat she designated her "second home" for expenses purposes, he said that had been "unacceptable" but would not say she would be forced to stand down.Asked about Communities Secretary Hazel Blears' failure to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the flat she designated her "second home" for expenses purposes, he said that had been "unacceptable" but would not say she would be forced to stand down.
Speaker statementSpeaker statement
"It is not as you will know, either against the law or against the rules of the House at the moment.""It is not as you will know, either against the law or against the rules of the House at the moment."
Ms Blears has said she has paid back the £13,332 in respect of capital gains tax.Ms Blears has said she has paid back the £13,332 in respect of capital gains tax.
Mr Brown also said Labour MP Margaret Moran's reported claim for £22, 500 for a second home in Southampton - 100 miles from her Luton constituency - was "totally unacceptable". She has repaid the money.Mr Brown also said Labour MP Margaret Moran's reported claim for £22, 500 for a second home in Southampton - 100 miles from her Luton constituency - was "totally unacceptable". She has repaid the money.
Michael Martin, who will stand down on 21 June, has already urged MPs to stop making claims until new interim rules is in place.Michael Martin, who will stand down on 21 June, has already urged MPs to stop making claims until new interim rules is in place.
The meeting organised by Mr Martin for all party leaders was intended to thrash out immediate proposals to reform the allowances system - ahead of the findings of an independent review, due in the autumn.The meeting organised by Mr Martin for all party leaders was intended to thrash out immediate proposals to reform the allowances system - ahead of the findings of an independent review, due in the autumn.
The Speaker would announce the full detail of the proposals to the Commons within the next few hours, Mr Brown said.The Speaker would announce the full detail of the proposals to the Commons within the next few hours, Mr Brown said.
But Mr Cameron said changing the rules and forcing MPs to pay back wrongfully-claimed expenses was not enough.
"What people really want is the chance to go out and put their cross in a box for the politicians they want to represent them in this parliament," he said.
"That's why we say let's have a general election."
The Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said that MPs had lost the confidence of the British public, but welcomed the changes agreed by the party leaders during their meeting with the Speaker.The Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said that MPs had lost the confidence of the British public, but welcomed the changes agreed by the party leaders during their meeting with the Speaker.
He added: "People are looking with disgust and with dismay at what is going on in Westminster.He added: "People are looking with disgust and with dismay at what is going on in Westminster.
"The days of MPs being judge and jury of their own pay, judge and jury of their own expenses, are over.""The days of MPs being judge and jury of their own pay, judge and jury of their own expenses, are over."