John
04-30-2009, 06:23 PM
Gordon Brown scrapped his plans to replace the allowance with a flat-rate attendance payment after they were savaged by both the Tories and Liberal Democrats.
The Government was also forced to abandon a vote backing the principle of an allowance taking account of Westminster attendance.
Facing a possible second defeat in just 24 hours, Commons Leader Harriet Harman withdrew the proposal and bowed to demands that the issue be left entirely to a review by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
The change of heart sparked anger and confusion in the Commons with MPs demanding that other issues, such as declaring details of all outside earnings, should also be left to Sir Christopher Kelly's committee.
But Ms Harman insisted the public would expect MPs to take action now where they could, while leaving other matters to the Kelly committee.
This prompted shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan to protest: "We seem to be treading rapidly into realms of complete and utter lunacy."
In the first of a series of votes, MPs agreed to scrap the second home allowance for Greater London Members by 355 to 39, a majority of 316.
They also voted to declare details of all outside earnings by 305 to 31, a majority of 274.
A Liberal Democrat bid to block proposals that all MPs' staff should be employed centrally by the House, rather than by the Member, was defeated by 285 to 96, majority 189.
The Government was also forced to abandon a vote backing the principle of an allowance taking account of Westminster attendance.
Facing a possible second defeat in just 24 hours, Commons Leader Harriet Harman withdrew the proposal and bowed to demands that the issue be left entirely to a review by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
The change of heart sparked anger and confusion in the Commons with MPs demanding that other issues, such as declaring details of all outside earnings, should also be left to Sir Christopher Kelly's committee.
But Ms Harman insisted the public would expect MPs to take action now where they could, while leaving other matters to the Kelly committee.
This prompted shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan to protest: "We seem to be treading rapidly into realms of complete and utter lunacy."
In the first of a series of votes, MPs agreed to scrap the second home allowance for Greater London Members by 355 to 39, a majority of 316.
They also voted to declare details of all outside earnings by 305 to 31, a majority of 274.
A Liberal Democrat bid to block proposals that all MPs' staff should be employed centrally by the House, rather than by the Member, was defeated by 285 to 96, majority 189.