SNP SET OUT TERMS FOR ALL-PARTY TALKS.

SNP SET OUT TERMS FOR ALL-PARTY TALKS.

4-POINT PLAN FOR REAL REFORM NOW

Commenting after the Speaker’s statement on reforming the Westminster expenses system, the Scottish National Party Westminster Group set out the 4-point plan that the SNP will be taking to the all-party talks tomorrow announced by the Speaker.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP, who will be attending the talks, said:

“It is vital that Westminster brings in real reform right now, and the SNP will take forward a 4-point plan to these talks.

“First, the review of the last four years of claims must be carried out by independent audit outwith Parliament in a matter of weeks, so that MPs’ accounts can be cleared or otherwise, and we begin the urgent process of restoring public confidence.

“Second, as an interim measure in advance of any recommendations by Sir Christopher Kelly, Westminster must immediately adopt the working practices of the Scottish Parliament – full disclosure of all MP claims within three months.

“Third, there must be agreement that the practice of ‘flipping’ and house transfer is immediately suspended.

“And fourth, there needs to be recognition that paying mortgage interest and funding speculation in the property market is at the heart of what is wrong with the Westminster system, and Sir Christopher Kelly be tasked with bringing forward proposals to end it.

“These are the measures which the SNP wanted to present to the Members' Allowances Committee - the committee charged with cleaning up the Commons expenses system – but SNP membership was blocked by Labour. The petty, partisan politics responsible for that carve-up must stop, and Westminster get on with the job of real reform – and that means learning from the Scottish Parliament’s allowances system, and adopting its procedures forthwith.”