Pressure builds before expenses report
The government is ramping up pressure on Sir Christopher Kelly ahead of the final publication of his review of MPs’ expenses later this week.
Gordon Brown met Sir Christopher this morning ahead of the report. He was expected to call for the recommendations to ensure poor would-be MPs will not be deterred from standing for parliament.
Downing Street did not comment on the substance of the meeting, however, apart from to say it had been arranged weeks in advance.
It follows calls by leader of the House Harriet Harman yesterday on Sir Christopher not to immediately dismiss MPs’ spouses.
Leaked conclusions of the review last week had suggested the expenses review would see relatives of MPs banned from working for them, a change to be imposed over a five-year period.
“I don’t think there should be any shadow cast over the existing spouses who are working very hard. I think it would be wrong to judge them all to be not doing a good job,” Ms Harman told the BBC.
“I do think it would be fair not to sack existing spouses working for MPs. I think if they’re going to suggest something it should be for the future – they can’t simply say they can’t simply be made redundant.”
Sir Christopher will publish his recommendations on Wednesday.
