Britain's opposition Conservatives said today their politicians would pay back thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to try to quell a row over parliamentary expenses that has outraged voters.
The Labour Party and Conservatives alike have been damaged by embarrassing revelations about how their politicians have filed expense claims for large sums spent on gardening, home furnishings, repairs and security.
Opposition leader David Cameron, tipped to become prime minister next year, said he was sorry for the actions of some Conservative legislators and was taking immediate action to halt abuse of the system.
"Politicians have done things that are unethical and wrong," he told a hastily arranged news conference.
Saying Conservative legislators must set an example of personal responsibility and thrift with public money, he said: "From now on I want them to claim what is reasonable to do their jobs, not the maximum they can get away with."
Revelations by the Daily Telegraphnewspaper that senior Conservatives claimed for cleaning their swimming pools, installing a chandelier or buying manure for their gardens have given a glimpse of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by some.
That grates with voters suffering the worst recession since the second World War and undermines Mr Cameron's attempts to tone down the party's elitist image.
Mr Cameron wants to win over working- and middle-class voters as he seeks to end 12 years of Labour rule. The Conservatives have a double-digit lead in the polls with a general election 13 months away at most.
Prime minister Gordon Brown has apologised on behalf of all politicians for the way the expenses system has been milked, but has not ordered wholesale repayment of any of the perks.
Mr Cameron announced that four of his top lieutenants, Michael Gove, Oliver Letwin, Andrew Lansley and Alan Duncan would repay more than £16,000 they had claimed for, respectively, furniture, putting a pipe under a tennis court, home improvements and gardening expenses.
Mr Cameron said he personally would pay back a maintenance bill for an unspecified amount.
He said he was setting up a new scrutiny panel to review "excessive" expense claims by Conservative members of parliament.
Politicians who failed to repay the money agreed with the panel would be dismissed from the party, he said.
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of Mr Brown's Labour Party, also announced steps to halt abuse of the expenses system.
She told the BBC she had asked a parliamentary committee to look at setting up a mechanism for legislators of all parties "to establish if money has been paid out wrongfully and to arrange for a repayment system."
The right-leaning Daily Telegraphhas been embarrassing both Labour and Conservative parties since Friday with details of thousands of pounds of claims made by politicians, including Mr Brown and cabinet colleagues.
Britain's 646 legislators receive an annual salary of almost £65,000, but also claimed £93 million in allowances last year, an average of £144,000 each.
A Populus poll in the Times, taken before the latest revelations about the Conservatives, indicated the scandal was turning voters off both major parties.
Analysts said disgusted voters might desert the mainstream political parties, boosting the far-right British National Party in June 4th local and European elections.
Reuters