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'Brown should have kept his nerve on MPs' expenses'
Nicholas Cecil29.04.09
Gordon Brown was today accused by a loyal Labour MP of losing his nerve in the row over MPs' expenses.
John Mann, a Labour "attack dog" against Tory sleaze, argued that the Prime Minister should not have ditched his proposal to replace second home payments of up to £24,000 a year with a daily allowance for MPs.
"Gordon Brown should have kept his nerve even if it meant losing the vote," he said. "The public were on his side even if MPs aren't."
Mr Mann is the latest Labour MP to criticise Mr Brown's handling of the reforms. The Bassetlaw MP also attacked David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's proposals to overhaul the expenses system.
But the pressure was on Mr Brown today to decide whether to pull the vote on the allowances, which is scheduled for tomorrow.
The all-party standards and privileges committee made a dramatic intervention last night by calling on the Prime Minister to wait for the findings of Britain's anti-sleaze watchdog, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, on how to resolve the dispute rather than rushing out interim measures.
Backbench MPs could rally around the committee's stance as it is seen as the upholder of standards in Parliament. Former Labour minister Paddy Tipping, who sits on the committee, said: "I hope the Government and opposition will listen to us."
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today warned of the damage being done by the furore. "The row over MPs' allowances, and the leaked emails, are as corrosive to our democracy as the row over bankers' bonuses is corrosive to our economy."
Reader views (16)
Brown has no nerve just a long yellow streak running down his back.
- Mike, London England
It beggars belief that ANYONE IN THE UK will ever vote for a Labour Government in the future.
Politics stinks. Bathplugs stink. Porno films on the Second Home Secretary's account stink.
Whilst we are at it peeps - DO NOT FORGET THAT those old fogies whom attend the House of Lords receive £335.00 EVERY DAY FOR SHOWING THEIR WITHERED FACE.
The UK is definitely FINISHED.
Gone down the plughole.
All that remains are those clinging to their obscene expense accounts in the House of Conmen.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster
Well said Marianne, hows SW France this time of year?
- Mike, London England
I am afraid Mr. Mann has completely mis-judged the mood of the electorate. We do NOT approve of MPs being awarded an allowance merely for turning up for work. If they have to stop over in London for a night or two they can be paid for overnight accommodation but NEVER, NEVER again must we have to pick up the bill for second homes in sisters' spare rooms, patio heaters, antique fireplaces, pornographic films, etc, etc, etc. We want those who have abused the system sacked and made repay every penny to the treasury.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
NO ! Mr Mann you have definitely got it wrong. Everyone and I mean everyone that I speak to are fuming at the suggestion by Brown to pay a daily attendance allowance. Show proper authorised and audited receipts for legitimate spending or leave parliament.
- Michael, London
Former Labour minister Paddy Tipping, who sits on the committee, said: "I hope the Government and opposition will listen to us."
More importantly:
a) They all need to listen to us,the electorate.
b) Stop the undignified wriggling and inescusable excuses and - as happens in real life - immediately sack those who have abused the system,
c) Face up to the fact that many 'honourable' members are anything but, and make the accounting system totally transparent and available to the electorate who foot the bill.
- John, Dorset, UK
Hello, Mr Mann, over here .Now listen good you twit,we the public were not in favour of paying you idiots to turn up,we are not in favour of paying you a darn penny for expenses.However,on the odd days you stay away from home(note, you are on Holiday half the year),we will pay for a Bed and Breakfast,but that is it.Now,which part of the above do you still not get.
- David, london
Keep his nerve, Gordon Brown is not known as "Bottler" Brown for nothing! This is why people hold up bottles of Newcastle Brown ale whenever he dares show his face in public.
He has flunked every single test of nerve he has ever had, look at the fiasco over the general election that never was when he replaced Tony Blair as leader of the Labour Party.
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Remember this everyone.
The longer these mine-all-mine McLabour Ministers and MPs can string out this 'fix', to Christmas and beyond, then the longer they can carry-on fattening their own bursting bellies!
Greedy swine.
- Dave, Cumbria
....er...yes. That's why he's called "Bottler Brown "
- R Jones, Bristol UK
I really don't understand the fuss over MP's expenses. Every company in the land manages to manages expenses without the fuss these imbeciles create.
If MP didn't abuse the system there wouldn't be an issue. Throw out the freebies and crazy second home allowances and simply have them submit receipts like everyone else for reasonable expenses incurred during the course of their work. It really isn't that difficult.
- Bruce, London
"The public were on his side even if MPs aren't."
If that is what Mr Mann supposes, to paraphrase Dickens, "Then Mr Mann is a ass."
- Matt, Telford
Of course he wants GB's initial idea - it meant more money for MPs without receipts.
- Jim, London
No Mr. Mann, the public are not on his or your side. We think that the abolition of receipts and accountability is decidedly a 'bad' thing.
- Tyler Durden, Milan
The only nerve Brown has is how to fleece the system for as much as possible and in shortest time. He knows he is out sooner or later and seems determined to cause as much trouble as possible for UK taxpayers and next Gov.
- Mike, London England
I suspect Mr Mann may have misunderstood the view of the British people: when we say about Crash Gordon "he's got a nerve!" (lies, hypocrisy, expenses etc etc ...) - we don't actually mean he has any admirable quality to begin with!
- Marianne, SW France
