John
04-30-2009, 06:28 PM
MPs have voted to scrap the second homes allowance for members representing constituencies within 20 miles of Parliament.
It's one of several reforms published by the Government which will take effect ahead of the publication of an independent review by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
MPs were to vote on axing the controversial £24,000-a-year, but the Prime Minister removed it from the Parliamentary motion when it became clear there would be no cross-party agreement on a replacement.
And in a further climbdown, Commons leader Harriet Harman announced at the start of the debate that the Government would agree to an amendment which said discussion of the allowance should be postponed until after the review.
MPs have also agreed to require members to publish details of all their financial interests outside Westminster.
Tory leader DavidCameron had said he would not support the proposal describing it as a "purely political play" which "went a bit far".
It's one of several reforms published by the Government which will take effect ahead of the publication of an independent review by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
MPs were to vote on axing the controversial £24,000-a-year, but the Prime Minister removed it from the Parliamentary motion when it became clear there would be no cross-party agreement on a replacement.
And in a further climbdown, Commons leader Harriet Harman announced at the start of the debate that the Government would agree to an amendment which said discussion of the allowance should be postponed until after the review.
MPs have also agreed to require members to publish details of all their financial interests outside Westminster.
Tory leader DavidCameron had said he would not support the proposal describing it as a "purely political play" which "went a bit far".