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An emergency bill to create an independent regulator of Commons expenses could be rushed through Parliament before the summer, the Standard has learned.
The legislation, which would hand the policing of the system to outsiders for the first time, is seen by Gordon Brown as key to the overhaul of the centuries-old convention of allowing MPs to determine their own spending.
The plan emerged as Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg today demanded that MPs should be barred from their summer break until the crisis triggered by the expenses scandal is resovled.
Mr Clegg insisted Parliament should not be allowed to go into recess until "every nook and cranny" of the political system is reformed.
Cabinet ministers stepped up their own demands for change, with David Miliband backing electoral reform and Tessa Jowell calling for US-style "open primaries" for the selection of Labour candidates for Westminster.
The Prime Minister is keen not to be outflanked by David Cameron and Mr Clegg over the issue of reform and is planning cross-party crisis talks within the next fortnight. The talks will discuss sweeping changes to Commons procedures, possible "recall" elections and fixed-term Parliaments.
Some changes will be enacted in a Constitutional Renewal Bill, but the move to create an independent regulator of MPs' expenses could be placed in a stand-alone emergency Bill. MPs have traditionally been in charge of their own expenses through the Commons Fees Office.
Writing in the Guardian, Mr Clegg set out a 100-day plan to clean up Commons expenses and speed up key constitutional changes.
"Let us bar the gates of Westminster and stop MPs leaving for their summer holidays until this crisis has been sorted out, and every nook and cranny of our political system reformed," Mr Clegg wrote.
"I'm setting out a plan of action to get all the changes we need delivered in just 100 days - making it possible for MPs to be sacked by their constituents, abolishing the House of Lords, getting corrupt money out of politics and changing the electoral system to give a voice to everyone."
The first two weeks of Mr Clegg's timetable for the "total reinvention of British politics" would see Parliament agree to accept the recommendations of the review into MPs' expenses and allowances by the standards watchdog, draw up a Bill to allow for the recall of errant MPs, and impose a £50,000 cap on individual donations to political parties in any one year.
The following period would introduce fixed parliamentary terms of four years from 2010, make ministers subject to confirmation hearings, and lay the ground for a referendum on proportional representation - to be held on day 100.
Reader views (9)
If this regulator isn't Elizabeth Filkin (The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner sacked for challenging MPs)I won't believe the 'independent' part.
- Jim, London, 29/05/2009 10:27
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Strange they can rush through an emergency bill for this crap but more important issues are sidelined. Instead of rushing through a bill sack those who are guilty and make an example...wont happen again.
- Rosie, watford, 28/05/2009 14:57
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Gordon is going to create a quango and stuff it with people who'll do his bidding. Hooray. That'll solve everything.
- Helena, Woking, UK, 28/05/2009 14:23
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Brown is planning to hold "crisis talks within a fortnight". This is the biggest scandal of all time to hit parliament and he has dragged his feet now for three weeks and is so deluded that he considers he is dealing with the crisis promptly by waiting another two weeks! The talks should have been held two weeks ago, the guilty MPs sacked, and a police investigation under way.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 28/05/2009 13:19
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These muppets have signed over our democracy to the EU, so lets hope that the next 21 gun salute is aimed at them!
- William, Red Hill UK, 28/05/2009 12:58
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All depends how Independent the regulator is. If its the usual old boys network then pretty worthless
- Mike, London England, 28/05/2009 10:57
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"Independent regulator".
HOW MUCH EXPENSES WILL THIS ALLEGED "INDEPENDENT REGULATOR" GET?
THIS BODY WILL BE ABOUT AS "INDEPENDENT" AS THE INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION.
MORE SPIN AND WAFFLE.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 28/05/2009 10:57
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"Cabinet ministers stepped up their own demands for change, with David Miliband backing electoral reform and Tessa Jowell calling for US-style "open primaries" for the selection of Labour candidates for Westminster."
Umm.. didn't Cameron call for all this two weeks ago? Labour - well behind the curve as all ways.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 28/05/2009 10:40
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Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown have never allowed themselves to be selected as Candidates by the People. They are simply leaders of Political Groupings, selected by members of their own Political Class.
As such they have no mandate or authority to even suggest how OUR parliament should be organised and run.The starting place for this is that the People get to choose the candidates that stand to represent their constituency.
The only people against this are the members of the Political Class, which poses the question why are they so scared of Democracy? Is it because it stops the gravy train of a job for life?
Democracy is more important than the Political Class or their policies. The Country belongs to the people not an Elite Class
The best they can do is make their individual proposals and then let the People decide.
Parliament belongs to the People, and not a Class that sees themselves as some sort of Political Elites. Democracy is when we have government by the people for the People by the People.
Government of the People by the Political Class is not Democracy – it is a feudal Dictatorship.
While most of this hiatus on reform is about deflecting attention from the morally corrupt Political Class, the only reform necessary is to allow the country to become a democracy.
- Ian, Reading, England, 28/05/2009 10:28
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