MPs revolt over expenses
MPs JOINED forces yesterday to revolt over the demands of independent reviewer Sir Thomas Legg, who is forcing them to repay excessive expenses claims.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron said MPs could be barred from standing at next year’s general election if they refused to pay back the sums.
“If people are asked to pay back money and they don’t pay it back, in my view, they can’t stand as Conservative MPs,” Cameron said.
But some politicians complained that Legg’s retrospective tightening of the rules, with lower spending limits on gardening and cleaning, went too far, and called for a cross-party co-ordinated challenge.
Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe said the changes were “contrary to the rules of natural justice” and meant parliament wasn’t fit to govern anybody else.