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/7221691.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Labour MPs to declare family jobs | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to tell all Labour MPs to declare whether they employ family members. | |
| The announcement came shortly after Tory leader David Cameron said he was going to order his frontbench team to do the same by 1 April. | |
| The Liberal Democrats are also looking at arrangements. | |
| The changes come after Conservative MP Derek Conway was suspended from the Commons for overpaying his son Freddie for working as a researcher. | |
| Mr Brown made clear he expected such transparency in a meeting with Chief Whip Geoff Hoon on Thursday, his political spokesman said. | |
| 'First step' | |
| In a statement earlier, Mr Cameron said: "I think there's a need for greater transparency or openness when it comes to MPs' pay and staff and expenses and allowances. | |
| "As a first step I will be asking my front bench colleagues from April this year to register, in the members' register of interests, whether they do employ any family. | "As a first step I will be asking my front bench colleagues from April this year to register, in the members' register of interests, whether they do employ any family. |
| What needs to happen more broadly is a change of culture at Westminster David Cameron | What needs to happen more broadly is a change of culture at Westminster David Cameron |
| "It would be a good first step. We want to show that MPs do work hard for their constituents and make good use of money." | "It would be a good first step. We want to show that MPs do work hard for their constituents and make good use of money." |
| Mr Cameron said the figure of "just over" 70 - out of a total of 193 - Tory MPs employing family members had come from a "ring around". | Mr Cameron said the figure of "just over" 70 - out of a total of 193 - Tory MPs employing family members had come from a "ring around". |
| Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has already been censured for overpaying Freddie's parliamentary allowances and has apologised to MPs. | Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, has already been censured for overpaying Freddie's parliamentary allowances and has apologised to MPs. |
| He has had his party's whip withdrawn and says he will not fight the next election. | He has had his party's whip withdrawn and says he will not fight the next election. |
| MPs voted on Thursday to suspend Mr Conway for 10 days and ordered him to return £13,161 of the money. | MPs voted on Thursday to suspend Mr Conway for 10 days and ordered him to return £13,161 of the money. |
| At the moment there are no rules against employing relatives paid for out of an MPs' allowances, and there is no requirement for any such link to be declared. | At the moment there are no rules against employing relatives paid for out of an MPs' allowances, and there is no requirement for any such link to be declared. |