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MPs told to declare family staff MPs urged to declare family staff
(31 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to ask all Labour MPs to declare whether they employ family members, following an earlier move by the Conservatives. The three main parties at Westminster have all urged their MPs to declare any family members working for them.
Tory leader David Cameron said he wanted his frontbench team to name all relatives working for them by 1 April. Tory leader David Cameron said he would ensure from 1 April his front bench registered family staff and would urge the rest of his MPs to do the same.
The Liberal Democrats are also looking at arrangements. After Mr Cameron's statement, Downing Street said Gordon Brown had asked for more transparency from Labour MPs.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg then told BBC News he was urging all of his MPs to say if they employed family as staff.
The changes come after Conservative MP Derek Conway was suspended from the Commons for overpaying his son Freddie for working as a researcher.The changes come after Conservative MP Derek Conway was suspended from the Commons for overpaying his son Freddie for working as a researcher.
'Doing the job' Party leaders cannot force MPs to register expenses with the Commons authorities, but Mr Cameron said he had received assurances from all his frontbench team that they would do so.
Mr Brown made clear he expected such "transparency" in a meeting with Chief Whip Geoff Hoon on Thursday, his spokesman said. 'First step'
He added: "But the important thing is not just that the staff are registered and identified appropriately but that they are doing the job for which they are funded by the taxpayer. Mr Cameron said: "I think there's a need for greater transparency or openness when it comes to MPs' pay and staff and expenses and allowances.
"That's what Mr Cameron and his party have previously failed to recognise."
Mr Brown is expected to meet Labour's parliamentary committee on Wednesday to discuss how to make MPs' spending more open.
What needs to happen more broadly is a change of culture at Westminster David CameronWhat needs to happen more broadly is a change of culture at Westminster David Cameron
Earlier, Mr Cameron said: "I think there's a need for greater transparency or openness when it comes to MPs' pay and staff and expenses and allowances.
"As a first step I will be asking my front bench colleagues from April this year to register, in the members' register of interests, whether they do employ any family."As a first step I will be asking my front bench colleagues from April this year to register, in the members' register of interests, whether they do employ any family.
"It would be a good first step. We want to show that MPs do work hard for their constituents and make good use of money.""It would be a good first step. We want to show that MPs do work hard for their constituents and make good use of money."
Mr Cameron revealed that "just over" 70 - out of a total of 193 - Tory MPs employed family members. He said the figure had come from a "ring-round" of most the party's MPs.Mr Cameron revealed that "just over" 70 - out of a total of 193 - Tory MPs employed family members. He said the figure had come from a "ring-round" of most the party's MPs.
Mr Brown made clear he expected such "transparency" in a meeting with Chief Whip Geoff Hoon on Thursday, his spokesman said.
Open
He added: "But the important thing is not just that the staff are registered and identified appropriately but that they are doing the job for which they are funded by the taxpayer.
"That's what Mr Cameron and his party have previously failed to recognise."
Mr Brown is expected to meet Labour's parliamentary committee on Wednesday to discuss how to make MPs' spending more open.
Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has already been censured for overpaying Freddie's parliamentary allowances and has apologised to MPs.Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has already been censured for overpaying Freddie's parliamentary allowances and has apologised to MPs.
He has had his party's whip withdrawn and says he will not fight the next election.He has had his party's whip withdrawn and says he will not fight the next election.
MPs voted on Thursday to suspend Mr Conway for 10 days and ordered him to return £13,161 of the money.MPs voted on Thursday to suspend Mr Conway for 10 days and ordered him to return £13,161 of the money.
At the moment there are no rules against employing relatives paid for out of an MPs' allowances, and there is no requirement for any such link to be declared.At the moment there are no rules against employing relatives paid for out of an MPs' allowances, and there is no requirement for any such link to be declared.