The Growing Woman

Brown’s expenses proposals: curb Cameron’s claims and limit MPs claiming more than £2,300 on furniture a year

It was probably inevitable that the government was going to try and do something to counter David Cameron publishing the expenses details of all but 18 of his MPs.

And so, late last night, Team Brown put down a motion of their own to clean up expenses, which will be whipped and so will probably go through (only last week Gordon thought it was a matter for MPs). So - from nowhere - we will probably get expenses reform today. But what do the government plans amount to?

The government’s proposal is for a consultation (hurray) which will be led by John “transparency champion” Spellar and Tommy McAvoy. Although it talks about abolishing the John Lewis list, in fact they are simply abolishing the internal guide price list for Commons staff used when approving claims.

MPs will still be able to claim furniture on expenses - although under the proposals from Harriet Harman this will be capped at 10 per cent of ACA, or £2,300 a year.

Sources close the Members’ Estimate Committee, who drew up much more radical plans, called this plan a smokescreen because it could even drag on to the next election.

There is also some vague threats that the governemnt want to prevent the likes of Cameron and Osborne from claiming the maximum amount. Currently both have large London houses, and therefore large mortagage interest payments. Last night Downing Street were saying:

Batman two face

MPs should only be allowed to claim their full £23,000 Parliamentary allowance in the form of mortgage interest payments, which is clearly designed to allow David Cameron, George Osborne and other Tory MPs who do so at the moment to continue charging the taxpayer for the full cost of their mortgages.

A written ministerial statement today says that the rules should be changed so MPs should claim “reasonable” costs of mortgage interest. This looks like it’s getting personal….

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