Labour MPs to declare family jobs

Gordon Brown has ordered all Labour MPs to declare "as soon as possible" details of any relatives they employ.

In a letter to the Speaker, he says he has told Labour MPs not to wait until April, as recommended by the Commons standards committee earlier.

Conservative leader David Cameron has already told his frontbenchers to declare any employed relatives, plus a range of other expenditure.

The initiatives come after a series of revelations about MPs employing family.

The Commons estimates committee announced on Tuesday it was to hold a review of expenses after claims public money was being misused. It is due to report in October.

In a letter to Speaker Michael Martin, the chairman of the estimates committee, Gordon Brown said he welcomed its review, saying a "root-and-branch overhaul of the current system" was needed.

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I feel that Brown is implementing this investigation because he is worried about losing his power in Parliament. I think he feels that if members of opposing parties elect family members with similar views, he could very well be voted out of office.

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Tories step up bug row pressure

The Conservatives are demanding a fresh Commons statement over the bugging of an MP which they say has made a "liar" of the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
It followed the revelation Home Office and Ministry of Justice officials were told about the incident in December.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said the case made the PM a "liar" as it countered prime ministerial pledges to protect MPs from bugging. Commons leader Harriet Harman said Mr Davis should "apologise" to Mr Brown. She told BBC Radio 4's World at One there was "no justification" for his accusation.

PM's promise 'broken'It follows claims counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded discussions between Tooting MP Sadiq Khan, a government whip, and a constituent he was visiting in jail.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had not been aware of the incident until the Sunday Times reports emerged this weekend.

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The conservatives are demanding a fresh commons statement. They are demanding this because a bugged mp portrayed British prime Minister Gordon Brown as a liar , this practice is being shown as a li. This article is interesting because it shows how hands on British politics is.

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