MPs’ expenses inquiry: ‘We have moral authority’
By Ian Dunt
An independent committee has begun its investigation into MPs’ expenses, with its chairman stressing: “We have moral authority.”
The committee on standards in public life begins its inquiry after opposition party leaders rejected Gordon Brown’s MPs’ expenses plan last night.
Asked this morning whether he would call ministers accused of misusing expenses, Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman, said: “We have no power to summon ministers. We just have moral authority.”
In an outspoken talk with journalists, Sir Christopher stressed the need to come up with a full system for MPs’ expenses which would be taken up wholesale.
“I’m not interested in producing a menu of options from which political parties can pick and choose,” he said.
Asked whether his committee had become an irrelevance given the prime minister’s plan and the vote on it next week, he said: “I think it most unlikely that a vote, even if it’s passed, will settle this issue in the way it needs to be settled.
“Was it [the prime minister’s announcement] helpful? I understand why the prime minister felt obliged to make proposals. The tide of public fury is overwhelming.”
After all three party leaders met last night to discuss Mr Brown’s proposals, the two opposition leaders voiced their objections to the press, including the need for receipts, to be made public.
Under Mr Brown’s plans MPs would receive a £150 allowance for ‘clocking in’ in Westminster, without having to show how the money is spent, replacing the £24,000-a-year housing allowance.
The vote on the proposals will still go ahead as planned but it is unclear exactly how things will proceed.
The best bet is that the different party leaders will put forward their own proposals.
Mr Clegg’s plan, for instance, would force MPs to sell their second homes and return a share of the proceeds to the taxpayer.
Downing Street is unable to say how much the prime minister’s scheme would cost, referring the matter to the Senior Salaries Review Body. But that body said it would be unable to release information before the vote on Thursday.
Mr Brown shocked commentators and fellow politicians by unveiling the proposals on Downing Street’s YouTube channel, without any warning. That was followed by a coordinated written ministerial statement from Harriet Harman in the Commons.
