Title: MPs prepare to tighten belts a
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Blog Entry: WESTCOUNTRY MPs last night bowed to the inevitable and accepted wholesale reform of their expenses. But there was widespread resentment that those standing for election again next year will "suffer", while many responsible for the worst abuses were leaving Parliament with "golden goodbyes" worth thousands of pounds. While leaders of all the main political parties vowed to accept "in full" the recommendations of Sir Christopher Kelly's report in MPs expenses, some of the region's backbenchers warned of the need for "common sense" to avoid "throwing the baby out with the bath water". Under the reforms MPs will no longer be able to claim for their mortgages or employ family members at the taxpayer's expense. Both changes will be phased in over the next five years, long after those who quit after abusing their expenses have left Westminster. A cap on claims for renting a second home of around Pounds 1,250 will also force many MPs to dramatically scale down Beads the type of property they live in - or stump up the difference themselves. The report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life also said that there should be no further capital gains at public expense. Claims for cleaning, gardening, furniture and interior designers will also be banned. Sir Christopher acknowledged that his wide-ranging proposals would mean "substantial change" for MPs. "The way in which expenses were dealt with by a large number of MPs was deplorable," he added, warning MPs not to attempt to water down his plans. While most MPs reluctantly accepted that all the reforms were needed, there was concern about the detail and the impact on those standing for Parliament in the future. Hugo Swire, Tory MP for East Devon, warned: "I understand that to the public at this time the political class is guilty of all charges but at the same time we must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Parliament is and must remain sovereign. We must always be wary of handing too many powers away to unelected bodies." Geoffrey Cox, (Con, Torridge and West Devon) said the report came after "12 months of shame" Akoya Pearl for MPs. "The problem has been a number of people - rather more people than one had wished or hoped - have seriously abused the system," he said. "There are many more who have properly administered their expenses who will now suffer." He also warned that the reputation of Parliament had been "trampled into the dust" by the scandal and it would prove a "formidable obstacle" if he were now entering politics for the first time. Nick Harvey, the Lib-Dem MP for North Devon and member of the Speaker's Committee, admitted the proposals will make life "more difficult" for MPs, but added: "Life has been tough for a lot of people in all walks of life at the moment and we just have to take it on the chin." David Laws, (Lib-Dem, Yeovil) said the reforms must be "adopted by Parliament swiftly and in full - and with no attempt by MPs to tamper or undermine it". Andrew George, (Lib-Dem, St Ives), said he "warmly welcomed" the report, but warned "common sense" needed to be applied to the detail of the proposals. In particular, Mr George said he had found renting in the capital "really rather more expensive" than his current arrangement of claiming for mortgage costs on a flat. Christian Louboutin Shoes Christian Louboutin Shoes
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