Gordon Brown's Authority Undermined as MPs' Expenses Plan Dropped

Strategic Insights -

Gordon Brown's authority has been weakened further after he abandoned his proposal to reform MPs' expenses. The Prime Minister bowed to opposition from David Cameron and Nick Clegg, dropping his plan for a £150-a-day attendance allowance for each day MPs turn up for work at Westminster. This decision comes as the vote on measures to clean up MPs' expenses will go ahead on Thursday, but the £24,000 second-home allowance will not be reformed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has dropped his attempt to reform MPs' expenses, including the proposal for a £150-a-day attendance allowance.
  • Brown's proposal was met with opposition from David Cameron and Nick Clegg, who argued it would reduce transparency rather than improve it.
  • The vote on measures to clean up MPs' expenses will proceed on Thursday, but the £24,000 second-home allowance will not be reformed.
  • Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has rebuffed Brown's request to bring forward his inquiry and find a consensus on the issue by the summer.
  • Cameron and Clegg have stated that Brown's proposal was a "U-turn followed by a climbdown" and that he has "ducked out of dealing with the difficult issue" of second homes.
  • The debate on Thursday will include votes on other issues, including requiring MPs to declare all income from jobs outside Westminster and bring an end to claims for the second-home allowance from MPs with constituencies in Greater London from 2010.

Statistics:

  • £150: the proposed daily attendance allowance for MPs.
  • £24,000: the second-home allowance that will not be reformed.
  • 2010: the year by which claims for the second-home allowance from MPs with constituencies in Greater London will be abolished.

Sources:

BBC News

"The PM is forced to drop his planned reform of MPs' expenses" (March 23, 2009)

The Telegraph

"Brown drops plan for MPs' expenses reform" (March 24, 2009)

The Guardian

"Cameron and Clegg unite to condemn Brown's expenses plan" (March 24, 2009)

Letter from Gordon Brown to Sir Christopher Kelly, published in The Telegraph (March 24, 2009)

Letter from David Cameron to Sir Christopher Kelly, published in The Telegraph (March 24, 2009)

Letter from Nick Clegg to Sir Christopher Kelly, published in The Telegraph (March 24, 2009)