Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats has argued that MPs should not be allowed to take a summer holiday until they make revolutionary changes in Parliament.
These include reforming the expenses system, funding of parties and the electoral system. He urged that these changes should take place within a time frame of 100 days.
Clegg makes his criticisms after more MPs such as Julia McBride and Margaret Moran have decided not to stand for the next election due to expenses claims.
He has expressed the need for voters to be able to decide whether MPs could step down immediately due to their mistakes rather than waiting until the next election. He finds it unfair that the public have not been involved in this expenses debacle at all.
When writing an article about this issue in the Guardian, he has said that reforms made to expenses should be done immediately, within a fortnight, with reference to Sir Christopher Kelly, standards watchdog. Next, there should be a 50,000 cap to be imposed on individual donations to political parties. Finally, a bill should be passed to introduce four year fixed parliaments from 2010 into the current governmental system.
Towards the end of next week, the Speaker would be responsible for amending the Commons procedure which will give MPs more power to scrutinize decisions and make members subject to confirmation hearings.
In the last week, the Lords should be replaced with an upper elected chamber.
