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| Will MPs accept expenses reforms? | Will MPs accept expenses reforms? |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Emma Griffiths BBC News website | By Emma Griffiths BBC News website |
| Months after the expenses furore, the findings of an independent inquiry are to be published - but will they be watered down or will MPs accept them in full? | Months after the expenses furore, the findings of an independent inquiry are to be published - but will they be watered down or will MPs accept them in full? |
| Will Sir Christopher's proposals be accepted? | Will Sir Christopher's proposals be accepted? |
| If the leaks are accurate, on Wednesday MPs will be told they should no longer claim for mortgage payments, employ relatives or get such large "golden goodbyes" when they step down. | If the leaks are accurate, on Wednesday MPs will be told they should no longer claim for mortgage payments, employ relatives or get such large "golden goodbyes" when they step down. |
| But the House of Commons has been reluctant to accept expenses reforms in the past - rejecting many of the recommendations of one of their own committees last year - so will this time be any different? | But the House of Commons has been reluctant to accept expenses reforms in the past - rejecting many of the recommendations of one of their own committees last year - so will this time be any different? |
| Some MPs have already made clear how concerned they were about the proposals from Sir Christopher Kelly's independent committee leaked last week. | Some MPs have already made clear how concerned they were about the proposals from Sir Christopher Kelly's independent committee leaked last week. |
| 'Ludicrous' | 'Ludicrous' |
| Tory MP Roger Gale suggested Sir Christopher was "not living in the real world" and said reports that MPs with constituency homes an hour from London would not be allowed to claim for a second home were "absolutely ludicrous". | Tory MP Roger Gale suggested Sir Christopher was "not living in the real world" and said reports that MPs with constituency homes an hour from London would not be allowed to claim for a second home were "absolutely ludicrous". |
| Labour's Sir Stuart Bell told the BBC existing mortgage arrangements "cannot be disturbed" and that he did not think MPs would "accept any enforced redundancies of present staff". | Labour's Sir Stuart Bell told the BBC existing mortgage arrangements "cannot be disturbed" and that he did not think MPs would "accept any enforced redundancies of present staff". |
| Commons leader Harriet Harman has said MPs will not get a vote on the matter and it will go to the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. | Commons leader Harriet Harman has said MPs will not get a vote on the matter and it will go to the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. |
| It seems to me to be quite dangerous to change the three principles Norman Baker | |
| But then she told the BBC it would not be "fair" if the 200 or so MPs who already employed relatives were suddenly forced to sack them - and said MPs must have the resources to work both in their constituencies and in Westminster. | But then she told the BBC it would not be "fair" if the 200 or so MPs who already employed relatives were suddenly forced to sack them - and said MPs must have the resources to work both in their constituencies and in Westminster. |
| The interview fuelled suggestions MPs may seek to water down the proposals. | The interview fuelled suggestions MPs may seek to water down the proposals. |
| Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, a campaigner for transparency on MPs' expenses, told the BBC it was incumbent on MPs to accept Sir Christopher's main recommendations - despite Parliament being "horrified in some quarters". | Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, a campaigner for transparency on MPs' expenses, told the BBC it was incumbent on MPs to accept Sir Christopher's main recommendations - despite Parliament being "horrified in some quarters". |
| He said the reported three main principles - that MPs do not employ relatives, do not claim for mortgage interest and, within a certain area around London, do not claim for second homes at all - should be "inviolate". | He said the reported three main principles - that MPs do not employ relatives, do not claim for mortgage interest and, within a certain area around London, do not claim for second homes at all - should be "inviolate". |
| "It seems to me to be quite dangerous to change the three principles," he said. | |
| No guarantees | No guarantees |
| If they were not adopted "all that happens is MPs will extend the pain and the issue will be drawn out longer than it needs to be". | If they were not adopted "all that happens is MPs will extend the pain and the issue will be drawn out longer than it needs to be". |
| But he added there may be some "wrinkles", such as how you calculate travel times between Westminster and constituency homes, that needed ironing out. | But he added there may be some "wrinkles", such as how you calculate travel times between Westminster and constituency homes, that needed ironing out. |
| Although political leaders have agreed that the old system needs to change there is no cast-iron guarantee the conclusions of Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review will come into force. | Although political leaders have agreed that the old system needs to change there is no cast-iron guarantee the conclusions of Sir Christopher Kelly's independent review will come into force. |
| LEAKED PROPOSALS MPs to claim for rent not mortgagesBan on employing relativesBan on MPs near London claiming for second homeEnd to £25-a-day subsistence claimsReduced resettlement grantsReduced travel claims MPs 'facing major expenses cuts' MPs expenses: What might change? | LEAKED PROPOSALS MPs to claim for rent not mortgagesBan on employing relativesBan on MPs near London claiming for second homeEnd to £25-a-day subsistence claimsReduced resettlement grantsReduced travel claims MPs 'facing major expenses cuts' MPs expenses: What might change? |
| Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have welcomed the review and have agreed to back the proposals if they meet three tests of improving transparency, accountability and reducing costs. | Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have welcomed the review and have agreed to back the proposals if they meet three tests of improving transparency, accountability and reducing costs. |
| But the government has reiterated that it will be up to the independent standards authority to make any changes to the existing regime - and that it will be able to "shape" Sir Christopher's proposals. | But the government has reiterated that it will be up to the independent standards authority to make any changes to the existing regime - and that it will be able to "shape" Sir Christopher's proposals. |
| The authority itself has an interim chief executive but does not yet have a chairman or board and is not due to be up and running until next spring. | The authority itself has an interim chief executive but does not yet have a chairman or board and is not due to be up and running until next spring. |
| According to its own website, is only "obliged ... to consult [Sir Christopher's] committee when developing its allowances scheme". | According to its own website, is only "obliged ... to consult [Sir Christopher's] committee when developing its allowances scheme". |
| Some are concerned about the role of the new body - set up by emergency legislation before the summer recess. | Some are concerned about the role of the new body - set up by emergency legislation before the summer recess. |
| 'New quango' | 'New quango' |
| Heather Brooke, who helped force the disclosure of MPs' expenses after a lengthy Freedom of Information battle, said IPSA had been created "at the whim of ministers with no information given to the public about its funding or operation". | Heather Brooke, who helped force the disclosure of MPs' expenses after a lengthy Freedom of Information battle, said IPSA had been created "at the whim of ministers with no information given to the public about its funding or operation". |
| She told the BBC: "What we've always needed from Parliament is direct access to official information, not a new quango which upholds the old belief that the public can't be trusted to know how their MP spends public money. " | She told the BBC: "What we've always needed from Parliament is direct access to official information, not a new quango which upholds the old belief that the public can't be trusted to know how their MP spends public money. " |
| IPSA's chairman and board members will be approved by a new committee of MPs, headed by Speaker John Bercow, which includes three Labour MPs Sir Stuart Bell, Don Touhig and Liz Blackman, Conservative Sir George Young and Lib Dem Nick Harvey. | IPSA's chairman and board members will be approved by a new committee of MPs, headed by Speaker John Bercow, which includes three Labour MPs Sir Stuart Bell, Don Touhig and Liz Blackman, Conservative Sir George Young and Lib Dem Nick Harvey. |
| Ms Harman's BBC interview fuelled rumours of watering down | Ms Harman's BBC interview fuelled rumours of watering down |
| But some concerns were expressed when that committee was announced last week. | But some concerns were expressed when that committee was announced last week. |
| Independent MP Bob Spink asked how people would have confidence in a committee "made up of the usual suspects who have so patently failed to carry public confidence with them over the years". | Independent MP Bob Spink asked how people would have confidence in a committee "made up of the usual suspects who have so patently failed to carry public confidence with them over the years". |
| Sir George said that IPSA would be independent and the MPs' committee would only oversee appointments but accepted that it would have to consult the committee, along with other bodies, when "preparing or revising" an expenses scheme. | Sir George said that IPSA would be independent and the MPs' committee would only oversee appointments but accepted that it would have to consult the committee, along with other bodies, when "preparing or revising" an expenses scheme. |
| It seems very unlikely there will not be substantial changes to the system of MPs' expenses. | It seems very unlikely there will not be substantial changes to the system of MPs' expenses. |
| Gordon Brown's spokesman said the PM's "overriding objective is to see the end of an old, discredited system" and he looked forward to "welcoming the Kelly review". | Gordon Brown's spokesman said the PM's "overriding objective is to see the end of an old, discredited system" and he looked forward to "welcoming the Kelly review". |
| And some MPs' concerns may be allayed when Sir Christopher's proposals are published in full - any recommendations are likely to be phased in over several years. | And some MPs' concerns may be allayed when Sir Christopher's proposals are published in full - any recommendations are likely to be phased in over several years. |
| But even if IPSA does decide to take on board all of Sir Christopher's recommendations, it is not clear when that might happen. | But even if IPSA does decide to take on board all of Sir Christopher's recommendations, it is not clear when that might happen. |
| Mr Brown's spokesman was unable to say on Monday exactly when it would begin work but said it would be "a matter of urgency" - IPSA's website says it aims to be operational by spring 2010. | Mr Brown's spokesman was unable to say on Monday exactly when it would begin work but said it would be "a matter of urgency" - IPSA's website says it aims to be operational by spring 2010. |
| The timetable led Lib Dem frontbencher David Heath to tell MPs last week: "I have my doubts whether the timetable will be such as to see real and effective change before the expiry of this Parliament." | The timetable led Lib Dem frontbencher David Heath to tell MPs last week: "I have my doubts whether the timetable will be such as to see real and effective change before the expiry of this Parliament." |