MP REVEALS PLANS FOR AN INDEPENDENT EXPENSES PANEL

MONMOUTH MP David Davies has revealed plans for an independent panel to scrutinise and approve his expenses.

Mr Davies has asked a former local Labour candidate to choose two or three other non-Conservative people to sit on the panel. Once formed, he will face the panel and reveal every receipt he has ever submitted in his four years as a Member of Parliament.

They will then have his permission to contact the fees office if they have any concerns.

"After days of revelations about MPs' expenses and the damage caused to the reputation of Parliament, I simply can't wait until the political parties work out how the system should be reformed," said Mr Davies.

"I cannot operate without trust and moral authority and immediate action needs to be taken now.

"That's why I am inviting anyone interested in sitting on the panel to come forward. I'm delighted that a prominent local person with a wealth of experience in the public service, who is in no way a Conservative supporter or voter, has already agreed to take part. I am hoping to arrange the inaugural meeting within the next fortnight.

"The idea is that I will meet with the panel every two months. They will have access to every single one of my receipts and will be able to question me on every penny of public money I have spent.

"They will also scrutinise all future claims, including travel expenses, staffing and office costs, and the second home allowance, before I submit them to the Fees Office.

"Once the party leaders agree on a system that is acceptable and transparent, the panel may want to disband. On the other hand, it may want to carry on scrutinising my expenditure. I will abide by the panel's decision and their word will be final.

"Anyone interested in joining the panel should email their CV to daviesd@parliament.uk which I shall then pass on, as I do not intend to play any role in appointing panellists.

"They should hold a prominent position in public life and the local community, have some experience of working in the public or private sector, and must be totally independent of myself and the Conservative Party."