Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "These proposals are a half-hearted attempt at solving the issue, and the public deserve better.
"Taxpayers are fundamentally unhappy with MPs spending our money on furniture and TVs, and whilst a £2,400 limit is an improvement, it is still £2,400 too much."
But, during the Commons debate, Conservative former minister Ann Widdecombe urged MPs to stop "crawling" for the media.
"Yes there have been abuses. Do you blame all GPs for Harold Shipman? Do we actually say that because a handful of teachers have been convicted of paedophilia that all teachers are bad?" she demanded.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has published a breakdown of expenses claims by all but seven of its MPs.
Leader David Cameron ordered the declarations by his frontbenchers following recent controversies over expenses claims.
Backbenchers were encouraged to disclose their claims but were not compelled.
All did, however, with the exceptions of Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Christopher Chope, Sir Paul Beresford, Bill Cash, Anthony Steen and Sir John Stanley.
I was expecting FMs would read the link, I just highlighted the part about Ann Widdicombe to show that even (an ex) Tory minister can see how much influence the media has on politics.
Anyway just to save anyone having to open the link here is the other part of the report.
MPs have taken a step towards changing their controversial system of expenses.
They rejected a Conservative plan to abolish the so-called "John Lewis" list, where they can claim up to £24,000 a year to furnish second homes.
But they backed a government proposal to recommend limiting the maximum to be spent on furnishings to £2,400 a year.
Both plans would still allow MPs to claim up to £24,000 a year to cover second home expenses such as mortgages, rent and utility bills.
The £2,400 limit for furnishings should be enough to cover "reasonable costs", Commons leader Harriet Harman said.
Taxpayers are fundamentally unhappy with MPs spending our money on furniture
Matthew Elliott, TaxPayers' Alliance
The Tory plan was defeated by 295 votes to 238.
The government's - which was approved without a vote - calls for the National Audit Office to oversee the procedures for new internal checks on expenses claims, and to approve new rules governing the allowances.
This does not go as far as the reforms recommended earlier this year by the Commons Members' Estimate Committee, which had wanted the NAO itself to scrutinise claims.
why do labour want to cover up the expense claims,well it could be due to the fact they are corrupt and fiddling every pound and penny they can, our MP the disgustingly thick Mr Darling has been know to ahem allegedly claim for things that he never bought,
and what about the fiddle /fraud that is seemingly legal that is practiced by nigel grffiths edinburgh south who owns the building his office is in yet still claims for rent for his office, utter contempt for the constituents , oh and he went to america for the inaugaration and charged the expense to the public purse even after the local party instructed him not to go,
the uk taxpayer has every right to know exactly where any MP spends our tax money, every item has to be accounted for, if they fail to provide a reciept for even a penny sweet then they should not be reimbursed, better still cut their pay, no expenses, no travel allowance except a rail/bus pass and have the right to remove an mp before his/her term is up, that way we may get people who have real experience that can be off benefit to the nation, no more career clowns and certainly no more ignorant uni grads who have never ever had a real job before politics.
We need someone like Obama. He has just announced he is shutting the doors on lobyists, His administration is going to be transparent and accountable. He has suspended all pay rises of senior staff while America is going through this crisis. ban on gifts to his staff.
In contrast to our beloved Gordon Brown who is whipping his MPs to vote for exempting MPs expenses from freedom of information so the public can't find out what they are claiming. Jumping into bed with any non domicile businessman who rips off the British public etc etc.
Comments
The cynic in me sees this U Turn deflecting comment away from unemployment.
Perhaps but the problem is unemployment is going one way at the moment and that issue isn't going to go away.
MPs vote to review expenses rules
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7508737.stm
What about it gummy?
Ms Widdecombe was also allegedly heard to say:
"Because one Conservative former minister opposes transparency on MPs expenses, does that mean that all Conservatives do?"
I was expecting FMs would read the link, I just highlighted the part about Ann Widdicombe to show that even (an ex) Tory minister can see how much influence the media has on politics.
Anyway just to save anyone having to open the link here is the other part of the report.
Maybe but 'allegedly' does not mean that she did.
and what about the fiddle /fraud that is seemingly legal that is practiced by nigel grffiths edinburgh south who owns the building his office is in yet still claims for rent for his office, utter contempt for the constituents , oh and he went to america for the inaugaration and charged the expense to the public purse even after the local party instructed him not to go,
the uk taxpayer has every right to know exactly where any MP spends our tax money, every item has to be accounted for, if they fail to provide a reciept for even a penny sweet then they should not be reimbursed, better still cut their pay, no expenses, no travel allowance except a rail/bus pass and have the right to remove an mp before his/her term is up, that way we may get people who have real experience that can be off benefit to the nation, no more career clowns and certainly no more ignorant uni grads who have never ever had a real job before politics.
What humbug :mad:
Can anyone believe anything this man says anymore? He's as bad as Blair.
So when we are all living in cardboard boxes and eating out of soup kitchens we don't riot and overthrow their gravy train.
In contrast to our beloved Gordon Brown who is whipping his MPs to vote for exempting MPs expenses from freedom of information so the public can't find out what they are claiming. Jumping into bed with any non domicile businessman who rips off the British public etc etc.
We need our Obama!!
it has been speculated that there may be pressure on some MPs to resign if details of their (outrageous) expense claims become public knowledge...
and of course the last thing that Brown wants is a ministerial resignation or even a by-election