Cameron tells Brown: 'Show some leadership'
DAVID Cameron demanded Gordon Brown to show some leadership over the ongoing MPs expenses affair.
During a subdued PMQs, the Conservative leader asked the Prime Minister to back various reforms to stop the culture of abuse that has angered voters and embarrassed MPs on all sides.
Mr Cameron - who yesterday stated that MPs from his party would be paying back expenses they had claimed that could not be justified - suggested that MPs publish their expenses online in real time so that there would be no hiding anything from the public.
But rather than take decisive measures, the Prime Minister urged MPs to wait for an independent commission to decide how to deal with the expenses system.
Mr Cameron said: "The issue is not whether MPs have borken any rules, the committee would know that no rules have been broken. The issue is with the rules themselves.
"It requires political leadership to sort it out."
He went on to suggest the Prime Minister scrap the £10,000-a-year communications allowance, which he thought was an unnecessary expense.
He said: "The communications allowance is worth £10,000 for every MP.
"Taxpayers are paying so we can all tell our constituents what a fantastic job we are doing.
"We've all done it. It's a complete waste of money. We should scrap it now."
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But Mr Brown was adamant that they should wait to hear the results from a committee.
He said: "The communications allowance was voted on by the house it is open to the house to change it.
"I'm trying to build a political consensus on change. It's unfortunate today we can't highlight those actions we agree action can be taken on immediately.
"Today is a time for all of us to come together to make the changes that are necessary."
In an attack on Mr Brown's authority, Mr Cameron said: "I wonder whether he needs an independent commission to decide whether to have tea or coffee in the morning?
"Stop talking, stop endless committees and show the leadership necessary to bring about real change."