This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8114546.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Brown 'determined' over expenses New laws target rule-breaking MPs
(29 minutes later)
Gordon Brown says he will not rest until there is "root and branch" reform of Parliament as MPs are told of new laws on their conduct. MPs who break the rules could face up to a year in jail under plans for new criminal charges for Parliamentarians.
He wants an external regulator to run all future expenses claims and criminal sanctions for MPs who break the rules. Harriet Harman outlined new offences of making a false expenses claim, failing to register a relevant interest and breaking rules on paid advocacy.
The measures, a response to "public anger" over the expenses scandal, could be approved by August, Mr Brown said. She also pledged to "look again" at the issue of blacking out details on MPs' published expenses claims.
Meanwhile Harriet Harman has told MPs the issue of hiding chunks of published claims will be "looked at again". Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said last week's heavily edited publication had been an "unmitigated" PR disaster.
Ms Harman has been outlining the government's plans for cleaning up Parliament in the wake of public anger over MPs' expenses claims.
'Very embarrassing'
Much had already been outlined - including the establishment of an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to run MPs' expenses and the register of interests - but included details of new criminal offences for MPs.
She said that the new Parliamentary Standards Bill would introduce new criminal offences that would put MPs on the same footing as local councillors and MSPs.
It cannot be right that MPs decide their pay and allowances or even the rules that govern them Gordon Brown Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn Expenses: options for reform
The three offences are knowingly making a false allowance claim, failing "without reasonable excuse" to register a relevant interest or contravening "without reasonable excuse" the rules on paid advocacy - the ban on payment to MPs by interest groups to raise issues in the Commons.
Making a false claim would be punishable by up to 12 months in jail or a £5,000 fine. The other two would be punishable by fines of up to £5,000.
Ms Harman also told MPs the issue of hiding chunks of published expenses claims would be "looked at again".
Many details were blacked out when full claims for the past four years were published last week - prompting much criticism from Freedom of Information campaigners.Many details were blacked out when full claims for the past four years were published last week - prompting much criticism from Freedom of Information campaigners.
Public anger
Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan described it as an "unmitigated public relations disaster" which "looked like censorship even if it wasn't".Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan described it as an "unmitigated public relations disaster" which "looked like censorship even if it wasn't".
Labour MP David Winnick said it was "very embarrassing" and had lost MPs "further public support".
Ms Harman said the issue would be re-examined, according to the advice of the information commissioner, for the 2008/09 claims.Ms Harman said the issue would be re-examined, according to the advice of the information commissioner, for the 2008/09 claims.
She has been outlining other reform plans - which include three new criminal offences for MPs of making false expenses claims, failing to register a relevant interest without a reasonable excuse and breaking rules on paid advocacy. Earlier Gordon Brown said he would not rest until there was "root and branch" reform of Parliament and said the plans amounted to the biggest ever reform of Parliament.
Mr Brown told Radio 4's World at One the plans amounted to the biggest ever reform of Parliament. The measures, a response to "public anger" over the expenses scandal, could be approved by August, Mr Brown said.
Code of conduct FROM THE WORLD AT ONE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qptc">More from the World At One
He said he was "determined" to clean up the political system and acknowledged he would be "answerable" to the public over his success in doing so at the next election.He said he was "determined" to clean up the political system and acknowledged he would be "answerable" to the public over his success in doing so at the next election.
"This is root and branch reform," he said. "It has never been done before.""This is root and branch reform," he said. "It has never been done before."
It cannot be right that MPs decide their pay and allowances or even the rules that govern them Gordon Brown class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8114992.stm">Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8048257.stm">Expenses: options for reform 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, details of which have be outlined by Commons leader Harriet Harman. 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. Gordon Brown said Parliament must no longer be able to determine MPs' allowances and responsibility should be transferred from the much-criticised Commons Fees Office to the new independent body.
In response, Gordon Brown says 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. Ms Harman will introduce a bill to set up the IPSA, 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.
She told MPs: "The public want to know who, other than them, is paying their MP." Gardening and cleaning
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.
'Self-restraint' The head of the new regulator and its members would be chosen in an "fair and independent" manner, Mr Brown added, while all future expenses claims and the rules governing them would be published in full.
Ahead of Ms Harman's statement, Mr Brown said he believed the proposals - combined with moves to independently audit all MPs expenses over the past four years - would help restore confidence in the system.
He also insisted that the new rules would mean MPs facing criminal sanctions if found guilty of wrongdoing.
FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At One
The head of the new regulator and its members would be chosen in an "fair and independent" manner, he added, while all future expenses claims and the rules governing them would be published in full.
"Transparency is the key to this because everything will be out there. The public can see for themselves whether the rules have been properly applied."
Mr Brown has acknowledged that tougher rules will not be not enough and Parliament must embrace a new culture of "self-restraint".Mr Brown has acknowledged that tougher rules will not be not enough and Parliament must embrace 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 denied he had pushed ahead with the proposals without consulting the opposition.Mr Brown denied he had pushed ahead with the proposals without consulting the opposition.
He said party leaders had agreed a series of interim changes to expenses last month, including a cap on what MPs can claim in mortgage interest and an end to claims in contested areas such as furniture, gardening and cleaning.He said party leaders had agreed a series of interim changes to expenses last month, including a cap on what MPs can claim in mortgage interest and an end to claims in contested areas such as furniture, gardening and cleaning.
Mr Brown has asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to propose permanent 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 permanent 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.