Expenses row MPs told they can't clean up on taxpayers

Published on Wednesday 20 May 2009 09:44

MPs have been told they will no longer be able to finance cleaners, home improvements or massive mortgages using taxpayers' cash.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the emergency new rules, which have been agreed by all parties, would drag the Commons into the 21st century and take control away from parliamentarians themselves.

The crackdown on excessive claims came after a historic day at Westminster yesterday which saw Michael Martin become the first Speaker in 300 years to be forced from office.

Supporters said he had been made a scapegoat for the scandal over MPs' expenses, which has provoked huge public anger since revelations began to be published two weeks ago.

But his departure became inevitable after MPs signed a motion calling for him to go. He will step down next month.

Backing the new expenses rules, Mr Brown said: "Westminster cannot operate like some gentlemen's club where the members make up the rules and operate them among themselves.

"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."

Tory leader David Cameron welcomed the changes, but argued a general election was needed so the public can punish MPs who abused the old system.

Under the new rules, there will be a ban on claims for "furniture, household goods, capital improvements, gardening, cleaning and stamp duty".

No MPs will be allowed to change the designation of their second home during 2009/10, in an effort to stamp out the tactic of "flipping" to maximise expenses.

A monthly limit of 1250 is to be placed on claims for mortgage interest and will also apply to rent and hotel bills.

All claims will be published quarterly online and claims which are the subject of any doubts will be refused without appeal.

The Daily Telegraph today continued its revelations, publishing details of items which Livingston MP Jim Devine bought from Linlithgow and Falkirk East MP Michael Connarty when he bought his London flat.

Mr Devine gave his fellow Labour backbencher 4000 for the goods, which he then claimed back from the taxpayer, while Mr Connarty went on to claim for new items for his new London flat.

According to the Telegraph, the items which passed between the two MPs included a three-seat sofa bed for 1000, another sofa bed for 600, two cushions for 60, a TV cabinet for 200, a lampshade for 75, an ironing board for 40 and two Victorian light fittings for 50 and 75.