Let’s rescue our party leaders by asserting parliamentary authority on expenses, says Adam Afriyie

Last year’s revelations about MPs’ expenses were a well-deserved kick in the teeth for Parliament. The old system of parliamentary allowances was overdue radical reform. But the new system formulated by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) threatens to be an even greater disaster.

MPs must not stand aside and watch while our parliamentary democracy is undermined by an expensive and unworkable expenses regime. Parliament must take charge of its destiny once again. This is why I have introduced the Parliamentary Standards (Amendment) Bill.

My bill seeks to reduce the cost of MPs by £4m a year by simplifying the way in which payments are made. It achieves this by restricting Ipsa’s administration costs and asking it to introduce a Members’ Allowance that is transparent, cheap to administer and paid at a consistent level for a whole Parliament. It maintains the independence of Ipsa but forces it to fulfil its original mandate of being ‘cost-effective and efficient’. My proposed new system will make abuse, and even the suspicion of abuse, a thing of the past.

As democratically elected representatives, MPs have a duty to hold the Executive to account. Parliament must never be subservient to the government. Yet for too long we have failed in our duty to assert the primacy of Parliament, by allowing governments and party leaders to dictate how Parliament operates. The violation of this age-old principle is the root cause of last year’s expenses debacle.

MPs have willingly allowed successive governments to dictate the terms under which they are employed. The current crisis of public confidence in the integrity of MPs and their Parliament is the direct result. Past governments sought to avoid embarrassing increases in MPs’ wages by introducing a proliferation of allowances. They then reacted to last year’s scandal by imposing an expensive and bureaucratic system that hinders the ability of MPs to properly represent those who elected them and, worst of all, gives an advantage to those of independent means.

Governments should be shut out of the debate about MPs’ remuneration, unless it increases the burden on the public purse. Parliament should give party leaders and ministers an escape clause and tell them to steer clear of this incendiary issue which should be left to Parliament.

People rightly have no sympathy for MPs who seek to exploit public office for personal financial gain. But the cumbersome new expenses system is not simply an inconvenience for MPs and their staff. It actively obstructs Members in their efforts to represent the people who elect them. While wealthier MPs simply subsidise their own costs, the majority are forced to borrow from banks, friends and family, or max out credit cards to do their jobs. The strain is perhaps hardest felt by those with young families.

Each and every MP knows full well that the present regime is unworkable. The prime minister himself has acknowledged that Ipsa must “get a grip”. Clearly the system needs fixing and it is time for an open and honest debate among MPs on how we might achieve this.

My bill may not be perfect. I have no doubt that it will be unpopular because it raises an issue that political leaders would rather avoid for fear of enraging the electorate. But I believe we have a duty to address an issue which threatens the people’s voice in Parliament.

Parliament is the primary institution of the British political system. It holds the Executive to account and secures the legitimacy of government action. For it to fulfil this role, MPs must be funded in a simple and accountable way that does not impede the work for which they were elected.

I hope that my bill will act as a catalyst for parliamentary action. Nothing less than the integrity of our Parliament is at stake.