Mr Heath, who sits on the front bench for the Lib Dems, described the government proposal as having "been drawn up on the back of a fag packet". Mr Heath has put forward a number of amendments to the motion. In particular he has raised concerns over the government's plans to have MPs' staff employed centrally.
David said: "The Government seem to have been more concerned with appeasing public discontent than producing a fair and transparent system for funding the work of MPs.
I am appalled that the government have not included important motions to this debate. For example some Ministers currently enjoy 'grace and favour homes' alongside the second homes allowance. This is clearly wrong and yet we have not been given the opportunity to question and vote on this.
We have seen the expenses gravy train in Europe, we've even seen it in the second chamber, and we should not be inviting it in to the Commons."
