Wednesday 4 November 2009

Today in Westminster...


Kelly report

An eventful day, kicking off with the formal publication of the Kelly report on MPs expenses, already heavily leaked and contained no great surprises; see below for a summary of the key recommendations. Full report available here.
  • No more allowances for mortgage payments, only for rented properties.
  • Outer London MPs will lose second home allowance.
  • Family members to banned from being employed by MPs (will not come into affect for another five years)
  • No claims for furniture or food to be allowed.
  • Abolition of the communications allowance.
  • Redundancy payments for MPs choosing to step down reduced to 8 weeks

All three party leaders used their opportunity to speak at PMQs today, to fully support the entirety of the report’s recommendations.
    PMQs

    Another sombre PMQs today, which was dominated by Afghanistan, with particular interest in the Afghan security forces and the legitimacy of the newly formed Karzai government. There were many references to cast iron guarantees from Labour backbenchers, who could not resist mocking Cameron’s abandonment of a Lisbon referendum. 

    David Cameron is expected to update the press with his reviewed European policy at 4pm today, after meeting with his backbenchers. 
    Following PMQs, Speaker Bercow announced that Prof Sir Ian Kennedy has been selected as the chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. 

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