British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called today for independent oversight of lawmakers' expenses to halt
a scandal over politicians' perks that has brought parliament into disrepute and enraged voters.
In a break with parliament's centuries-old tradition of self-regulation, Mr Brown proposed that an independent, outside body should administer a new allowances system.
Another external body would set legislators' pay.
"These are big changes. They change centuries of history for parliament. But to move from self-regulation to statutory independent regulation is in my view the only way forward now," Mr Brown told a news conference.
He was speaking after a meeting with opposition leaders and the Speaker of the lower house of parliament, Michael Martin, who announced earlier he would step down in June after criticism of his handling of the expenses scandal.
Mr Martin became the most senior figure to quit after parliamentarians' expense claims for everything from manure to porn films triggered outrage across recession-hit Britain and opposition calls for an early general election.