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Tories attack PM in expenses row Cameron attacks Brown on expenses
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown is tolerating the "disgusting sight" of MPs trying to avoid prosecution for alleged expenses abuses, David Cameron is to say. David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of a "humiliating change" of stance after Labour suspended its three MPs facing charges over their expenses.
The Tory leader will vow to change the law to stop MPs using parliamentary privilege to "evade justice". The move came as the Tory leader prepared for a speech featuring a claim his Labour counterpart was tolerating the MPs' attempt to "evade justice".
But deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said the Conservatives had opposed such a law coming into force in the summer. The Tories were the "new generation" of politicians "at ease with openness" who would reform politics, he added.
They were being "at best muddled and at worst downright opportunistic", she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Downing Street called Mr Cameron's attack on Mr Brown "desperate".
Ms Harman also said she was "completely satisfied" that parliamentary privilege did not apply to cases like theft or fraud.
And she warned Mr Cameron to be "careful" not to jeopardise the trial with comments that could allow the MPs to argue they could no longer receive a fair trial.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME Harriet Harman: Tories muddled Nick Clegg on Woman's Hour
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said "nobody should be fooled" by Gordon Brown and David Cameron "suddenly... talking about political reform".
It is understood that lawyers for Labour MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, who are charged with theft offences, may claim their expense claims are covered by the centuries-old Parliamentary privilege law, which traditionally protects them from being sued for what they say in the Commons.It is understood that lawyers for Labour MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine, who are charged with theft offences, may claim their expense claims are covered by the centuries-old Parliamentary privilege law, which traditionally protects them from being sued for what they say in the Commons.
Politicians from all the main parties have criticised the lawyers' move.Politicians from all the main parties have criticised the lawyers' move.
Labour MPs suspendedLabour MPs suspended
The MPs - plus a Conservative peer, Lord Hanningfield - face charges of false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968. If found guilty they face a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment. They all deny the charges.The MPs - plus a Conservative peer, Lord Hanningfield - face charges of false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968. If found guilty they face a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment. They all deny the charges.
In his speech, Mr Cameron is expected to demand Mr Brown clarify reports that the Labour Party's official solicitor is providing the three MPs with legal advice. In his speech at the University of East London, Mr Cameron highlighted reports that the Labour Party's official solicitor was providing the three MPs with legal advice.
It's like a couple of cowboy builders coming back to your house to tell you how bad their workmanship is Nick CleggLib Dem leader href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8501441.stm">Q&A: Parliamentary privilege href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/seealso/2010/02/daily_view_mps_expenses_and_pa.html">What the politics pundits say FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME href="/today/hi/today/newsid_8503000/8503686.stm">Harriet Harman: Tories muddled href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8503899.stm">Nick Clegg on Woman's Hour
He will say: "At the very least, Gordon Brown should withdraw the whip... and more importantly, he should make sure this cannot ever happen again." He had been due to say that the least Mr Brown could do was withdraw the party whip from the three - something which he said the Conservatives had been demanding for two days.
Shortly before his speech, Labour announced that the three MPs' membership of the Labour Party had been suspended "pending the finalisation of the legal process". But, after the news from Labour that the three were being suspended "pending finalisation of the legal process", Mr Cameron said Labour were in "headlong retreat" and had again showed that the Conservative Party's instincts on expenses were in tune with the public's.
Mr Cameron is also asking shadow Commons leader Sir George Young to prepare a new Parliamentary Privilege Act which "we would introduce as soon as possible, to clarify the rules of parliamentary privilege to make clear that they cannot be used by MPs to evade justice".Mr Cameron is also asking shadow Commons leader Sir George Young to prepare a new Parliamentary Privilege Act which "we would introduce as soon as possible, to clarify the rules of parliamentary privilege to make clear that they cannot be used by MPs to evade justice".
Mr Cameron will say: "Gordon Brown cannot reform the institution because he is the institution: he made it." Mr Cameron said: "Gordon Brown cannot reform the institution because he is the institution: he made it."
'Cut the rhetoric''Cut the rhetoric'
The Liberal Democrats want to go one step further by amending existing legislation this week in the House of Commons to ensure those charged with abuse of expenses cannot evade the legal process. But deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said the Conservatives had opposed such a law coming into force in the summer.
And Mr Clegg will say at an election summit: "Listening to the two of them anyone would think they were powerless backbenchers rather than the leaders of the two parties in Parliament which have proved to be the real roadblocks to reform. They were being "at best muddled and at worst downright opportunistic", she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
It's like a couple of cowboy builders coming back to your house to tell you how bad their workmanship is Nick CleggLib Dem leader Q&A: Parliamentary privilege What the politics pundits say
Ms Harman also said she was "completely satisfied" that parliamentary privilege did not apply to cases like theft or fraud.
And she warned Mr Cameron to be "careful" not to jeopardise the trial with comments that could allow the MPs to argue they could no longer receive a fair trial.
The Liberal Democrats want to go one step further this week by amending existing legislation in the House of Commons to ensure those charged with abuse of expenses cannot evade the legal process.
And Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "Listening to the two of them anyone would think they were powerless backbenchers rather than the leaders of the two parties in Parliament which have proved to be the real roadblocks to reform.
"It's like a couple of cowboy builders coming back to your house to tell you how bad their workmanship is."It's like a couple of cowboy builders coming back to your house to tell you how bad their workmanship is.
"If they genuinely want political change, it is in their power to deliver it. So I challenge them to cut out the speeches and the rhetoric and get on with the job.""If they genuinely want political change, it is in their power to deliver it. So I challenge them to cut out the speeches and the rhetoric and get on with the job."
On Sunday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the four politicians should be tried in court, as people wanted to see MPs treated like everyone else.On Sunday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the four politicians should be tried in court, as people wanted to see MPs treated like everyone else.
He told the BBC: "They are entitled to a fair trial and the public... would be aghast if they thought there was some special get out of jail card for Parliamentarians."He told the BBC: "They are entitled to a fair trial and the public... would be aghast if they thought there was some special get out of jail card for Parliamentarians."