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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| MPs' mortgage claims 'should end' | MPs' mortgage claims 'should end' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| MPs should stop claiming for mortgages and employing relatives at public expense, an expenses review recommends. | MPs should stop claiming for mortgages and employing relatives at public expense, an expenses review recommends. |
| Mortgage claims should be stopped after an "appropriate transitional" period and employing relatives should be phased out within five years, it says. | Mortgage claims should be stopped after an "appropriate transitional" period and employing relatives should be phased out within five years, it says. |
| Sir Christopher Kelly also warned MPs to accept his proposals in full and implement them by the next Parliament. | Sir Christopher Kelly also warned MPs to accept his proposals in full and implement them by the next Parliament. |
| David Cameron said MPs should accept the proposals "in full" - Mr Brown said MPs "should accept" them. | |
| But he said it would be for the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) to implement changes. | |
| Sir Christopher's committee was asked to overhaul the much-criticised expenses system after the expenses scandal and said they had taken a "cold, hard look at what went wrong". | Sir Christopher's committee was asked to overhaul the much-criticised expenses system after the expenses scandal and said they had taken a "cold, hard look at what went wrong". |
| Capital gains | Capital gains |
| It has also, as expected, recommended generous resettlement grants for MPs who voluntarily step down will be stopped - but not until the election after next. | |
| If his recommendations are accepted by the IPSA MPs would get eight weeks' pay instead - under the current system some long-serving MPs can get up to £64,000. | |
| KEY 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 At-a-glance: Reform plans Will MPs accept expenses reforms? | KEY 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 At-a-glance: Reform plans Will MPs accept expenses reforms? |
| Sir Christopher said the Commons standards committee could already remove the grant from misbehaving MPs as a sanction and "should do so". He also said there should be some non-MPs on the committee. | Sir Christopher said the Commons standards committee could already remove the grant from misbehaving MPs as a sanction and "should do so". He also said there should be some non-MPs on the committee. |
| But implementing the change before this general election would not be fair on blameless MPs who were planning to stand down, he said. | But implementing the change before this general election would not be fair on blameless MPs who were planning to stand down, he said. |
| On mortgages he said MPs should not expect "to acquire a valuable asset at public expense" - but MPs with mortgages should continue to get support for the lifetime of the next Parliament. | On mortgages he said MPs should not expect "to acquire a valuable asset at public expense" - but MPs with mortgages should continue to get support for the lifetime of the next Parliament. |
| However he said any "capital gains" on the property over that time should be "surrendered to the taxpayer". | However he said any "capital gains" on the property over that time should be "surrendered to the taxpayer". |
| A commercial rental agency should be used to find MPs' properties and handle payments, the report says. | A commercial rental agency should be used to find MPs' properties and handle payments, the report says. |
| Other recommendations include axing the £10,400 a year communications allowance, which he said "had been used by some for self publicity". | Other recommendations include axing the £10,400 a year communications allowance, which he said "had been used by some for self publicity". |
| MPs' anger | MPs' anger |
| MPs should also meet the costs of home-to-work travel themselves, he said. | MPs should also meet the costs of home-to-work travel themselves, he said. |
| He backed the Commons decision to deny a second homes allowance to MPs living within 20 miles of Parliament but said it should be extended to about 12 MPs who live just outside that, but due to transport links have quicker journeys to Westminster. | He backed the Commons decision to deny a second homes allowance to MPs living within 20 miles of Parliament but said it should be extended to about 12 MPs who live just outside that, but due to transport links have quicker journeys to Westminster. |
| POLITICAL EDITOR'S VIEW From BBC political editor Nick Robinson: A skim read of the document just published reveals two surprises alongside confirmation of the tough new regime on second homes and employing family members. | POLITICAL EDITOR'S VIEW From BBC political editor Nick Robinson: A skim read of the document just published reveals two surprises alongside confirmation of the tough new regime on second homes and employing family members. |
| Kelly rejects the cry of many Labour MPs that MPs should be barred from having other jobs. He also says that the new independent regulator should set MPs pay and pensions. For those fearing that politics may become a rich man's game this will be some comfort. To those who fear snouts in the trough it will be a source of real concern | Kelly rejects the cry of many Labour MPs that MPs should be barred from having other jobs. He also says that the new independent regulator should set MPs pay and pensions. For those fearing that politics may become a rich man's game this will be some comfort. To those who fear snouts in the trough it will be a source of real concern |
| Several MPs had been annoyed at reports that he would recommend any MP living within a 60-minute train journey to London should not get the allowance - something that is not in the report. | Several MPs had been annoyed at reports that he would recommend any MP living within a 60-minute train journey to London should not get the allowance - something that is not in the report. |
| Other recommendations include reducing the allowance for inner London MPs - raised from £2,916 to £7,500 this year - and restricting second homes claims to rent, hotel payments and bills. | Other recommendations include reducing the allowance for inner London MPs - raised from £2,916 to £7,500 this year - and restricting second homes claims to rent, hotel payments and bills. |
| MPs should not be banned from taking outside employment but it should be restricted to "reasonable limits", the report said. | MPs should not be banned from taking outside employment but it should be restricted to "reasonable limits", the report said. |
| But it made no proposals on MPs' pay - saying that was a job for the senior salaries review body. | But it made no proposals on MPs' pay - saying that was a job for the senior salaries review body. |
| "Our proposals are reasonable and fair and bring Westminster into line with other walks of life and other legislatures," Sir Christopher said. | "Our proposals are reasonable and fair and bring Westminster into line with other walks of life and other legislatures," Sir Christopher said. |
| Tests 'met' | Tests 'met' |
| He said they aimed to ensure "that MPs are properly supported and fully reimbursed for necessary costs incurred in doing their important" while also providing stronger safeguards for the taxpayer. | He said they aimed to ensure "that MPs are properly supported and fully reimbursed for necessary costs incurred in doing their important" while also providing stronger safeguards for the taxpayer. |
| He said he had had assurances in the summer from Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg that they would accept his proposals in full - as long as they met three tests of reduced costs, increasing transparency and increasing accountability. | |
| KELLY REPORT Committee on Standards in Public Life: MPs' expenses and allowances [976 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | KELLY REPORT Committee on Standards in Public Life: MPs' expenses and allowances [976 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| He said it was clear that the tests "have all been met". | He said it was clear that the tests "have all been met". |
| He added that there was a risk, as time went by, that "some may be thinking of distancing themselves from earlier expressed determination to implement" his report. | He added that there was a risk, as time went by, that "some may be thinking of distancing themselves from earlier expressed determination to implement" his report. |
| "That would, in my view, be an error," he warned. | "That would, in my view, be an error," he warned. |
| "The damage that has been done ... has been very considerable. I don't believe the trust in those who govern us will be restored unless those in authority show leadership and determination." | "The damage that has been done ... has been very considerable. I don't believe the trust in those who govern us will be restored unless those in authority show leadership and determination." |
| 'Mixed signals' | 'Mixed signals' |
| A new regime can only become law if it is adopted by the newly created standards body IPSA - and is not likely to happen until after the next election. | A new regime can only become law if it is adopted by the newly created standards body IPSA - and is not likely to happen until after the next election. |
| In a letter to Sir Christopher, the prime minister says he is "determined that we sweep away this old system". | In a letter to Sir Christopher, the prime minister says he is "determined that we sweep away this old system". |
| He says he "accepts" the report but it will be for IPSA to implement, adding: "IPSA will set to work immediately and we expect they will proceed swiftly to put these changes into effect." | He says he "accepts" the report but it will be for IPSA to implement, adding: "IPSA will set to work immediately and we expect they will proceed swiftly to put these changes into effect." |
| But Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Tory leader David Cameron have challenged him to say he will accept the recommendations "in full". | |
| Mr Brown told MPs it was "right to refer the Kelly report for action and implementation" to IPSA and said most MPs were hard working and determined to serve the public. | |
| "That's why we should accept the Kelly recommendations," he said. | |
| His official spokesman confirmed to reporters that Mr Brown backed them "in full". | |
| Some MPs want a vote on the proposals while some relatives who work for them say they will fight to keep their jobs. | Some MPs want a vote on the proposals while some relatives who work for them say they will fight to keep their jobs. |
| The BBC understands that Commons Speaker John Bercow will also tell MPs not to try to "block, neuter or minimise reform". | The BBC understands that Commons Speaker John Bercow will also tell MPs not to try to "block, neuter or minimise reform". |