MPs refuse to give up their allowances
After much build-up in the press it appears that Gordon Brown is set to lose this week's Commons vote on the change in MPs expenses. Amid claims that the government is set to announce an interim payment to MPs, in exchange for their votes later this week, there are serious concerns that Gordon Brown's campaign has hit the buffers. Despite the fact there is an ongoing official investigation into MPs expenses, Gordon Brown stepped into the breach last week suggesting that he would single-handedly rebuild the expenses system.
There is intense speculation around Parliament this evening that payments of between £2000 and £5000 could be on the way for MPs if they agree to change this week. The opposition parties are set to try and derail Gordon Brown's campaign as they believe there is further controversy and scandal to come later this year when more receipts are released into the public domain. Amid allegations that expense claims for helicopter rides and other such outrageous expenses have been cleared by the Commons, this situation appears set to go on for some time to come.
However, it has to be stated that the many expense claims held to ridicule in the UK press over the last few weeks have broken no laws and are totally legal and within the current guidelines.
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