Party leaders in MP expenses talks

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The PM attempted to quell growing public anger with a surprise announcement on Tuesday that the Commons could vote on an emergency package of reforms as early as next week.

He called on MPs to accept they had to axe their controversial £24,000-a-year second home allowance.

A "simpler and less generous" system of perks, including a daily fixed-rate attendance allowance, was needed to show voters that MPs were "there to serve the public, not there to serve themselves", he said.

Tory leader David Cameron, who will join Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg for talks with Mr Brown on the plans, welcomed the PM's "U-turn" on the need for more urgent changes.

But both men expressed serious reservations over whether a Brussels-style attendance allowance was the best way to restore public faith that MPs were not milking the system.

The head of the watchdog undertaking a fundamental review of the pay and perks system also warned that a political "quick fix" would not satisfy angry voters.

Mr Brown, who unveiled his proposals through a video posted on the Downing Street website, had previously resisted demands for immediate action.

He had instead submitted proposals to the Committee on Standards in Public Life which brought forward its inquiry into the system so that reforms could be drawn up by the end of the year. But he has accepted the need for interim measures to shore-up public confidence until then.

Under his proposals, the second homes allowance would be replaced by an independently-set flat rate daily allowance based on actual attendance at Westminster.