MPs 'shouldn't decide own expenses'

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Sir Christopher Kelly was speaking at the launch of a comprehensive review of the expenses system by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL), which is due to produce proposals for thorough-going reform by the end of this year.

He said the issue of MPs' expenses was "the single most damaging issue for public trust in politicians" in the past 15 years.

He said: "There must be reform and it must be done properly.

"This is not something that should be left to politicians to sort out for themselves. If public confidence is to be restored, there needs to be an independent inquiry by people with no political agenda of their own which can look hard at all the evidence and that is open to anyone who wants to contribute."

The launch of the CSPL inquiry comes a day after cross-party talks broke down on proposals put forward by Gordon Brown for reforms, including the abolition of MPs' second home allowance.

Mr Brown had hoped to secure parliamentary approval in a Commons vote next week, but was unable to gain support from opposition leaders for his plan for a fixed daily attendance allowance.

Sir Christopher said that he did not believe the vote scheduled for next Thursday would settle the expenses issue, and suggested that it might not now even take place.

He made clear that his independent Committee would not be bound by Mr Brown's interim proposals when it draws up its recommendations for long-term reform, even if they have been approved by Parliament.

After holding public hearings in June and July, the CSPL has a target of the end of this year to deliver its recommendations, which will be subject to a vote in the House of Commons.