NEW EXPENSES RULES WELCOMED SAYS DAVID HEATH

“Nick Clegg was the only party leader who suggested a year ago that MPs should be taken out of the property game altogether, and I’m glad this has been taken up," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath.

Commenting on the new expenses rules announced by Sir Ian Kennedy’s Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), David Heath said: “I welcome what Ipsa has published today. They’ve worked very hard to get a workable scheme up and available for the start of the new Parliament.

“Nick Clegg was the only party leader who suggested a year ago that MPs should be taken out of the property game altogether, and I’m glad this has been taken up.

“I hope the proposals will now be put in place and we can start the new Parliament with much greater public confidence in a system that is transparent and fair.”

CONSTITUENTS SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO AXE THEIR MPS IF THEY’VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG - CLEGG

Over the last few weeks we have seen the sudden rise in “people power”; the electorate is now calling for immediate action on Westminster Reform. In my opinion, it is only the Liberal Democrats who can deliver that reform.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg speaking on the day when three MPs have announced their retirement from Parliament at the next election, he said: “Why do the people have to wait until the next election.

“There is no need to wait, if it’s proved that an MP as done something wrong; constituents should have the power to sack them before the next election - it should be done now”.

APRIL FOOLS DAY AND DON’T WE KNOW IT; AND OUR MPs MUST BE TAKING US FOR FOOLS EVERYDAY DAY OF THE YEAR

First the poor old taxpayers have to bail out the banks, then it’s the turn of the car industry and now it’s the turn of our MPs. It appears unbelievable, but it is true! I know it is April Fools Day, but this one does actually taking some believing and it’s true.

After months of wrangling over MPs expenses with Smith McNulty and Co; Gordon Brown as at long last said the inquiry into Standards in Public Life will be speeded up.

Yesterday, Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb said: Parliament would "destroy itself" in the public's eyes unless changes to the system of MP's allowances were agreed soon.

"We must show we are capable of reform," he said.

But, still they haven’t learnt they MPs are apparently to receive a pay rise of 2.33% from 1 April (which is today), bringing their annual salary to about £64,766.

The Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg and his deputy, Vince Cable, have said publicly that they will not take up the rise.

Also we have heard that plans unveiled by the Leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, the Exchequer will increase its contribution from £12.4m to £13.2m a year. MPs will each have to pay an extra £60 a month to help fill a £51m black hole in the parliamentary pension fund.

The package was published after government financial experts found a growing deficit in the pension scheme because former MPs were living longer.

The Government Actuary said that taxpayer contributions to the scheme – already one of the most generous in the country – would have to increase by £2.1m a year to cover the shortfall.

Ms Harman said she wanted MPs to increase their payments into the scheme from 10 per cent to 11.9 per cent – equivalent to £60 a month – to help limit the extra bill for the taxpayer.

Commenting on today’s recommendations from the Government Actuary that taxpayers should contribute more to MPs’ pension schemes, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb said: “If this is allowed to go ahead, it will be a spectacular own-goal for MPs."

"The pensions of MPs and other well-paid public sector workers have to be brought in line with reality.

NICK CLEGG SEEKS URGENT MEETING WITH BROWN AND CAMERON TO OVERHAUL MPS’ EXPENSES

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has today written to Gordon Brown and David Cameron seeking an urgent meeting to reform the system of MPs’ expenses.
The full text of the letter is below:

I am writing to you to propose that our parties work together to agree an urgent overhaul of MPs' expenses. The recent scandals make it clear we cannot continue with the current system any longer.

The upcoming inquiry by the Committee on Standards in Public Life will not report this side of a general election. This is far too long to wait. We owe it to the citizens of this country to ensure a fair deal for taxpayers before then.

The move to a principles-based expenses system is welcome but I believe several further reforms are needed to rebuild public confidence. Two in particular would be achievable immediately. First, in the name of transparency, every penny of public money claimed by MPs should only be reimbursed on production of a receipt: taxpayers have the right to know how their money is being spent. Second, the present rules on second homes are incomprehensible to millions of people who have to commute each day: no London MP should be able to claim for a second home.

I know that, by tradition and convention, these matters are dealt with by the House independently of party leaders. I believe passionately in the rights of the Commons, but our fellow citizens' faith in politics is more important still. For the sake of restoring trust, we need to show political leadership, and act as party leaders to clean up the expenses regime once and for all. This is not a matter for party political point scoring: we must act together or all politicians will find themselves condemned by public opinion.

I therefore propose that we meet at your earliest convenience to agree a way forward. I have laid out my proposals, but I would of course welcome your ideas of other ways in which we can improve the system. I look forward to hearing from you.