'Public should have say over pay-offs for shamed MPs'

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The Liberal Democrat leader hit out at pay-offs of more than £100,000 for MPs and their staff, which in many cases include relatives.

Commons Leader Harriet Harman also stressed that the anti-sleaze watchdog, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, would examine whether the pay-offs should be cut to end the "old boys' club" at Westminster.

MPs forced out now would miss out on a resettlement grant of up to a year's salary, based on age and years of service, but if they cling on to the general election they would qualify for the money.

David Cameron's former aide Andrew MacKay, who has been forced to stand down as MP for Bracknell at the next election, could get a £64,700 payment despite claiming tens of thousands of pounds in housing allowance even though he did not have a proper second home.

The first £30,000 is tax free and MPs also get £42,000 to "wind down" their offices - making a total, once the tax free element is taken into account, of more than £120,000.

Other politicians who could get the maximum include "duck island" Conservative Sir Peter Viggers, "moat" MP Douglas Hogg and Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton.

Mr Clegg said: "If someone has done something seriously wrong, it should be up to their constituents whether they should stay on as MPs and claim these very generous salary and pay-offs."