Gordon Brown: Expenses scandal is 'scar on democracy'

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Speaking for the first time since yesterday's report on the saga, the Prime Minister said reforming the voting system and cleaning up Commons expenses were now vital.

"We have taken the action necessary to clean up politics, but I am determined now to reconnect Parliament and the public, to bring politics back to the people. It's their Parliament, not ours," he said. "This expenses scandal has been a scar on democracy and has done great damage to the reputation of parliament. We are putting the discredited old system behind us and I want to see the new system in place as soon as possible."

Mr Brown said that his plans to replace the first-past-the-post system with an "alternative vote", which requires candidates to get a majority of the votes in their constituency, would be a big step towards "reconnecting" electors and the elected.

This week he announced plans for a referendum on electoral reform. The proposal would come into force at the election after next. "We have got to show people we have learnt lessons from this Parliamentary expenses scandal. Parliament has got to improve itself and I think improve its relationship with the people.

"If an MP is elected by more than 50 per cent of the vote, that gives him or her a better mandate than they have at the moment."

Mr Brown has repaid more than £13,723 in his own expenses in the past year. His second home cleaning costs between 2004 and 2009 exceeded a £2,000 a year cap imposed by Sir Thomas Legg, who audited MPs' expenses.