Brown seizes the reform agenda

Yesterday the PM followed the historic Speaker’s resignation with a press conference outlining the changes that the party leaders have agreed on. The PM performed well and stated that Westminster cannot operate like a “gentleman’s club”. He continued to state that self regulation was no longer an option and independent body will be set up to regulate expenses and remuneration. The PM stated, Westminster "can no longer operate as a 19th-century institution where the members make up the rules, and operate them among themselves".

The government have now launched a consultative document outlining the unprecedented changes to the parliamentary system. In marked change of strategy, Brown is now on the offensive keen to show the public that he is leading the drive to transparency and fairness in parliament.

On GMTV this morning, the PM attacked Hazel Blears by stating her behaviour was “totally unacceptable” and reiterated that any MP or minster that has defied the expenses rules will not stand for the Labour party in the next general election. With a reshuffle expected shortly after the European elections on June 4, it seems Blear’s exit from government could be imminent. When questioned about the possibility of a general election, the PM stated that country did not need the “chaos” of an election at this time.

PMQs were dominated by calls for an immediate general election, with Cameron asking “The Prime Minister calls an election chaos. I call it change. When can we have one?" In a much fierier exchange, the PM stated a Conservative government would cause chaos. Nick Clegg performed well again; he also called for an election, whilst advocating wider parliamentary reforms including a new electoral system, he claimed, “expenses are only the tip of the ice berg”. And continued, "the whole way we do politics must now be transformed".