MPs agree expenses reform … finally

MPs representing seats in outer London will be stopped from claiming the full £24,000 second home allowance from next year and all claims, no matter how small, will have to be supported by receipts, MPs voted in a Commons debate last night. Parliamentarians will also have to declare details of their earnings from second jobs and how much time they work on these jobs, and will no longer be responsible for employing staff directly. The changes are interim reforms pending a report from the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, Sir Christopher Kelly.