MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British government set to cut MPs “second home allowance”

The controversial second home allowance for British members of Parliament could be axed within days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded an urgent Commons vote on reforms.

In a bid to calm a growing storm over taxpayer-funded Westminster perks, the Prime Minister pre-empted an independent inquiry by calling for a vote as early as next week.

Mr Brown set out his proposals to make the system “simpler and less generous” in a video posted on the Number 10 website shortly before they were formally published for MPs by Commons leader Harriet Harman.

He said it was vital to take immediate action to restore confidence that MPs were there to “serve the public and not there to serve themselves” and warned MPs they needed to show “humility”.

Under his proposals, the second homes allowance would be replaced by an independently-set flat rate daily allowance based on attendance.

Ministers who live in 'grace and favour' homes and MPs living “within travelling distance” of Westminster would be banned from claiming it, though there would still be an allowance for London MPs.

All staff appointed by MPs would become direct employees of the House of Commons, which would set their employment terms and pay, under a measure designed to address concerns over the employment relatives.

Receipts would be required for every item claimed by MPs, however small, under the terms of the interim reforms - which could be in place by July 1.

There would also be “greater transparency” of earnings from MPs' second jobs, said Mr Brown - who wrote to Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg offering a meeting in the next week to discuss his plans.