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MPs 'must accept' claims reforms Clegg: Accept all expense reforms
(about 1 hour later)
The House of Commons speaker will argue that MPs must accept sweeping reforms to their allowances and expenses, the BBC understands. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has warned that MPs must accept proposed expenses reforms "lock, stock and barrel" when an independent inquiry reports later.
The proposals, due to be set out later, could suggest an end to mortgage payments claims, employing relatives, and "golden goodbyes" for retiring MPs. He told the Telegraph there must be no "backsliding" and letting an arms-length agency decide which reforms to take forward would be "ludicrous".
Speaker John Bercow will insist MPs, some of whom want a vote on the review, must not try to halt or reduce changes. Proposals may include banning mortgage claims and MPs employing relatives.
The planned reforms follow a tumultuous year of claims revelations. Some MPs want a vote on proposals while some relatives who work for them say they will fight to keep their jobs.
More than 100 MPs have said they will stand down at the next election. Sir Christopher Kelly will publish his long-awaited report setting out proposals for changes to the heavily criticised system of MPs' expenses at about 1000 GMT.
Second homes 'New dawn'
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson says Mr Speaker Bercow is "determined this will be a day which is seen as ushering in a new dawn for MPs and not one in which they are seen to protect themselves".
After Sir Christopher Kelly publishes his long-awaited and heavily leaked report setting out the proposals on Wednesday morning , the Speaker will tell the Commons not to try to "block, neuter or minimise reform", added our correspondent.
Speculation around Sir Christopher's proposals has been rife
A new regime can only become law if it is adopted by the newly created Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), after another period of consultation, and not until after the next election.
This has led some MPs to suggest that the Kelly report could still be amended.
The review by Sir Christopher, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, comes after claims for items including duck islands, moat cleaning and dog food were publicised.
Many MPs were criticised for re-designating their second homes - a practice known as "flipping" - to claim allowances.
There are also questions, and further investigations, into the use of parliamentary expenses for mortgages which had already been paid off.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman will deliver a statement on Sir Christopher's report at 1230 GMT, following prime minister's questions.Commons Leader Harriet Harman will deliver a statement on Sir Christopher's report at 1230 GMT, following prime minister's questions.
Last week, the BBC learned the committee was likely to recommend major changes to the most controversial allowance - the £24,006 a year second homes payment. The BBC understands that Commons Speaker John Bercow will also tell MPs not to try to "block, neuter or minimise reform".
Sources said it would suggest MPs only be allowed to claim towards rent, rather than towards mortgage interest as at present. BBC political editor Nick Robinson says the Speaker is "determined this will be a day which is seen as ushering in a new dawn for MPs and not one in which they are seen to protect themselves".
More than 200 MPs who currently employ relatives would be stopped from doing so under the proposals, it is understood. 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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8330020.stm">MPs 'facing major expenses cuts' class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8338096.stm">Will MPs accept expenses reforms?
Smaller payoff? A new regime can only become law if it is adopted by the newly created Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, after another period of consultation, and not until after the next election.
And a resettlement grant paid to MPs who stand down or lose their seats at a general election is expected to be reformed. But Mr Clegg said the authority should make clear immediately "that it sees its role as implementing Sir Christopher's proposals in their entirety".
Criticised as a "golden goodbye", it can range from £32,383 to £64,766, depending on age and time served. The first £30,000 is tax free. He wrote: "We would be committing a spectacular own goal if we were seen as getting involved in monkey business by trying to wriggle out of the straitjacket that Sir Christopher seeks to impose."
The BBC understands Sir Christopher's report will recommend this be replaced with a small fixed sum, possibly a couple of months' salary. He also accused the government of sending out "mixed signals" on the reforms - after Commons leader Harriet Harman told the BBC it would not be "fair" to sack relatives who already work for MPs.
The £10,400-a-year communications allowance - which was the only allowance voted through by MPs without a recommendation from the senior salaries review board - is expected to be axed entirely. Phased in
MPs have already voted to hand over decisions on Sir Christopher's report to the newly set-up IPSA. Leaks suggest Sir Christopher will recommend a wide range of cuts to MPs' allowances and an end to the practice whereby MPs can employ their relatives - more than 200 currently do so.
The BBC understands that Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, an expert in medical ethics, is to be named as its chairman. Other proposals are expected to include stopping MPs being able to buy homes and claim the mortgage interest payments on expenses - instead MPs would only be able to claim towards rent.
This body will decide what allowances MPs receive and how they will be administered. A resettlement grant paid to MPs who stand down or lose their seats at a general election is expected to be significantly reduced and the controversial £10,400-a-year communications allowance is expected to be axed.
It will pay salaries and allowances and draw up a code of conduct including provisions for the registration of financial interests. Speculation around Sir Christopher's proposals has been rife
Sir Christopher's inquiry into the Westminster allowance system was announced in March, before the details of MPs' expenses were leaked to the Daily Telegraph. Any changes, if adopted by the new standards authority, are likely to be phased in over several years. More than 100 MPs are already expected to stand down at the next general election.
The review by Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life, comes after the MPs' expenses scandal in which MPs' claims for items including duck islands and moat cleaning, for mortgages that were already paid off and the practice of "flipping" designated second homes were exposed.
Sir Christopher will also reportedly tell MPs that his reforms must be accepted in full as quickly as possible.
Sleaze watchdog
The government has said it will be up to the new authority to implement any changes to the expenses regime - but some MPs want a vote on the reforms.
IPSA has only just been set up and does not yet have a chairman or management board, although the BBC understands that Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, an expert in medical ethics, is to be named as its chairman.
Martin Bell, the former BBC correspondent who stood as an anti-sleaze MP in 1997, questioned whether the reforms would be implemented by the new body which can be " appointed by MPs and can be dismissed by MPs".
But Eve Burt, who works for her husband the Conservative MP Alistair Burt, told the BBC any changes to staffing arrangements should only apply to new MPs - in line with pension changes in other professions.
"I hope Sir Christopher is going to look at those of us who currently work there and have employment contracts and have done a really good job, and actually get to carry on doing our job for the time being."
She added: "There are only about 200 of us that currently work out of the 3,000 staff that they have in Parliament and it would be nice if we were allowed to keep our jobs until our spouses .. leave Parliament."