MPS have been accused of scoring an own goal after voting to keep their £24000 second home allowance. They agreed to continue their generous system of

MPs' rejection of tough expenses rules will make it "very hard" to alter the perception they have their "snouts in the trough," a senior MP has warned.

MPs yesterday threw out a series of proposed reforms to their expenses when 33 ministers joined forces with a cross-party group of backbenchers to maintain

Liberal Democrat Nick Harvey, a member of the committee which drew up a package of reforms, said MPs would find it "very hard" to alter the perception they have their "snouts in the trough".
On Thursday MPs voted by 172 to 144 to retain the additional costs allowance used to fund members' London homes.
146 were Labour MPs.

London MPs today pocketed a cash bonanza from an extraordinary Commons vote against reform of their expenses.
They threw out a £10,000 cut in the second home allowance for outer London MPs, even though it had been recommended by an independent salary review body. But they voted in a £4,500 pay rise for inner London MPs, even though it was twice as generous as the amount the salary review body had recommended.
nces on their expenses, and reject calls for their lavish system of allowances to be subject to external anti-fraud checks.

By Murray Wardrop MPs are facing public anger and a possible inquiry over their generous expenses regime after they voted to continue squandering taxpayers'

FOUR North Wales MPs helped to defeat plans that would stop politicians furnishing their homes at taxpayers’ expense last night.
They joined 172 politicians, including cabinet ministers, to vote down the findings of a Commons review that would have stopped them buying new kitchens, televisions and other household goods from the “John Lewis list”.
his son Freddie more than £40,000 over three years as a parliamentary researcher, despite him being a full time student in Newcastle.

By Rob Merrick MPs yesterday defied calls to tighten up their muchcriticised £24000 "second home" expenses, despite growing public anger after a succession

BOTH city Labour MPs helped to reject plans aimed at cleaning up the tarnished image of politicians at Westminster.
Linda Gilroy for Plymouth Sutton and Alison Seabeck for Plymouth Devonport voted to retain the right of MPs to use taxpayers' money to claim for a raft of household goods from the “John Lewis list”, and home improvements.
eplace it with an annual £19,600 accommodation allowance, plus £30-a-day for subsistence.

By Jonathan Reed Political Editor MPs were accused of showing "astonishing arrogance" last night after rejecting tougher controls over their controversial

MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday voted for a below-inflation pay rise – but risked a public backlash by keeping their controversial “John Lewis list” expenses system.
In a series of Commons votes, MPs bowed to demands from Gordon Brown for restraint and accepted a 2.25% pay rise for this year.
Stevenage MP married to millionaire Welsh novelist Ken, claimed £1,600 for window cleaning.

By ROSS LYDALL MPS were last night accused of having their "snouts in the trough" after refusing to surrender their ability to furnish their second homes

By Michael Lea Last updated at 11:40 PM on 03rd July 2008 Cabinet ministers were among MPs who last night defied public anger and voted to carry on

There were very few truly honest moments in the debate on MPs’ pay and expenses. My favourite was when the Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes fixed his gaze on Harriet Harman and fumed: “It’s easy for the Government to say, ‘Hold back, everybody!’ Everybody in the Government is paid more than everybody else by a significant amount! Seriously, I make a practical household point!”
Harriet Harman (salary £138,724) looked peeved as she observed Mr Hughes (salary £61,820). So selfish! So small-minded! Here was the Government trying to save the reputation of nothing less than democracy and here was Mr Hughes talking filthy lucre. I could almost feel her shiver with disgust.
exercise

They agreed to a below-inflation rise of 2.25 per cent, which will take their pay from £61,181 to £62,588.
But when pension contributions and expenses are included it amounts to an average of £137,500 each.
m the innuendo and misrepresentations about pay'.

By Andrew Porter, Political Editor MPs defied public anger over their generous regime of taxpayer funded allowances as they threw out a series of reforms

By Mark Hookham Two Lancashire MPs voted to retain their controversial second home allowances, which allows them to claim for a raft of household goods and

By Tim Castle LONDON (Reuters) - Members of Parliament threw out proposals to reform their expenses on Thursday and voted to retain the so-called "John Lewis list" of housing allowances.
They also rejected plans for independent spot checks on the amounts of expenses they claimed.
taying away from their constituency should be able to claim up to 19,600 pounds a year as an overnight allowance. Continued...