New Rules for MP's expenses

Sir Christopher Kelly announced comprehensive reforms for MP's last week in an effort to finally quell the expenses row that erupted earlier this year.

The long awaited report by the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life recommends that MPs in the UK should no longer be able to gain financially on taxpayer funded property deals. Mortgage interest payment claims are to go as will the golden handshakes if they choose to stand down at election time - although this will not apply to those who have already agreed to go at next year's general election.

The full recommendations, expected to be endorsed by the main party leaders, include giving the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority the power to set the pay, pensions and expenses of MPs.

No doubt a furore will ensue among some members of the UK parliament in response to the proposals but Sir Christopher maintains that the new systems are necessary to stop any further abuse of public money and to win back the trust of the UK populace.