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| Brown outlines expenses reforms | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has promised "root and branch" reform of Parliament as his government prepares to outline new laws to regulate MPs conduct and expenses. | |
| Ministers are proposing laws to set up an external body to authorise future expenses claims and discipline MPs. | |
| Mr Brown told the BBC that the measures were a response to "public dismay and anger" over the expenses scandal and could be approved by the end of July. | |
| He told Radio 4's World at One it was the biggest ever reform of Parliament. | |
| Mr Brown was speaking in the wake of criticism of Parliament for first resisting calls to publish expenses details and then blacking out of large chunks of claim details before their release on Friday. | |
| All parties broadly back Gordon Brown's proposal to take control of expenses out of Parliament's hands. | All parties broadly back Gordon Brown's proposal to take control of expenses out of Parliament's hands. |
| Recent revelations by the Daily Telegraph based on a leaked unedited version of all expenses claims made between 2004 and 2008 - have led to the resignation of a host of MPs and a police investigation into a number of individuals. | Recent revelations by the Daily Telegraph based on a leaked unedited version of all expenses claims made between 2004 and 2008 - have led to the resignation of a host of MPs and a police investigation into a number of individuals. |
| In response, Gordon Brown said Parliament must no longer be able to determine MPs' allowances, with responsibility for the system being transferred from the much-criticised Commons Fees Office to an independent body. | In response, Gordon Brown said Parliament must no longer be able to determine MPs' allowances, with responsibility for the system being transferred from the much-criticised Commons Fees Office to an independent body. |
| We cannot move on until we have addressed people's anger Gordon Brown | We cannot move on until we have addressed people's anger Gordon Brown |
| Ms Harman will introduce a bill to set up the Parliamentary Standards Authority which would consider claims and be able to fine or even expel MPs guilty of serious wrongdoing. | Ms Harman will introduce a bill to set up the Parliamentary Standards Authority which would consider claims and be able to fine or even expel MPs guilty of serious wrongdoing. |
| The bill will also include obligations for MPs to disclose details of their outside financial interests including income from second jobs. | The bill will also include obligations for MPs to disclose details of their outside financial interests including income from second jobs. |
| A new code of conduct, outlining what constituents can expect from their MPs, is also being proposed. | A new code of conduct, outlining what constituents can expect from their MPs, is also being proposed. |
| 'Stained reputation' | 'Stained reputation' |
| Ahead of Ms Harman's statement, Mr Brown told the Daily Mail that the expenses scandal had "stained" Parliament's reputation, adding that it had done itself "no favours" by blacking out so much of the detail of MPs' claims. | Ahead of Ms Harman's statement, Mr Brown told the Daily Mail that the expenses scandal had "stained" Parliament's reputation, adding that it had done itself "no favours" by blacking out so much of the detail of MPs' claims. |
| "Trust has been destroyed by some of the people who are relied upon as the stewards of responsibility and fairness in society," he said. | "Trust has been destroyed by some of the people who are relied upon as the stewards of responsibility and fairness in society," he said. |
| "We cannot move on until we have addressed people's anger." | "We cannot move on until we have addressed people's anger." |
| The proposed reforms would launch British politics on a "new course", Mr Brown added, although he acknowledged that tougher rules were not enough and Parliament must reconcile itself to a "new culture of self-restraint". | The proposed reforms would launch British politics on a "new course", Mr Brown added, although he acknowledged that tougher rules were not enough and Parliament must reconcile itself to a "new culture of self-restraint". |
| Opposition parties support, in principle, the role of an external regulator although areas such as the declaration of outside financial interests will be more controversial. | Opposition parties support, in principle, the role of an external regulator although areas such as the declaration of outside financial interests will be more controversial. |
| Mr Brown has asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to propose changes to the system of MPs' pay and allowances by the end of the year. | Mr Brown has asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to propose changes to the system of MPs' pay and allowances by the end of the year. |
| Many MPs - including the new Commons Speaker John Bercow - have urged the government to accept its recommendations in full. | Many MPs - including the new Commons Speaker John Bercow - have urged the government to accept its recommendations in full. |
| Party leaders agreed a series of interim changes to expenses last month, including a cap on what MPs could claim in mortgage interest and an end to claims in contested areas such as furniture, gardening and cleaning. | Party leaders agreed a series of interim changes to expenses last month, including a cap on what MPs could claim in mortgage interest and an end to claims in contested areas such as furniture, gardening and cleaning. |