British lawmakers face tougher new expense regime

By DAVID STRINGER Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - Britain published new rules Wednesday after a scandal over lawmakers' expenses, banning politicians from using taxpayers' money to pay for mortgages on second homes or hire family members as staff.

Lawmakers also won't be able to claim expenses anymore for cleaners, gardeners, furniture or lavish meals.

Christopher Kelly, a former civil servant who drafted the new rules, said it was difficult to calculate how much the new system will save, but predicted costs will be cut by at least 8 million pounds ($13.2 million) per year, and likely more.

"Our proposals are reasonable and fair and bring Westminster into line with other walks of life and other legislatures," Kelly said. "They recognize the unique circumstances of an MP's (member of Parliament's) life, but are shorn of the special features which gave scope for exploitation."

Kelly's rules will be phased in over five years for serving lawmakers, but enforced right away for legislators elected at the next national election - which must be held by June.

His recommendations, which party leaders have agreed to adopt despite some protests from lawmakers, followed a scandal over outrageous expense claims.

Lawmakers manipulated housing rules for profit, and attempted to bill the public for items including porn movies, horse manure and an ornamental duck house.

Some lawmakers used public money to fund mortgage interest payments or renovations on second homes either near Parliament or in the area of Britain in which they were elected. Other manipulated the rules to sell the homes for profit or to fund improvements to several properties.

In the future, lawmakers will only be reimbursed to rent an apartment in London, or to pay for hotel rooms while they are working in the capital. A new 25 pound ($41) limit will be set for the cost of dinner if lawmakers work late.

The decision to phase in the new rules mean that dozens of lawmakers who currently employ husbands and wives as administrators won't be forced to fire them immediately. Some lawmakers have suggested that they could hire the spouses or relatives of other legislators - effectively swapping family members between offices - to circumvent the rules.

About 175 legislators have already repaid about 300,000 pounds ($475,000) since the details of their expense claims were leaked to a British newspaper earlier this year.

More than 100 lawmakers have said they won't contest the next election as a result of the furor. One study claims as many as 300 of the 646 House of Commons lawmakers could lose their jobs, though most will go as result of an expected rout of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party by the opposition Conservatives.