MPs change expenses system - slightly

MPs have accepted some minor changes to their expenses system.

The Commons rejected Conservative plans to take almost all second home items, like furniture, off the list of possible claims members of parliament can make.

But MPs accepted government plans to make the National Audit Office auditor of their expenses and to cap annual expenses on second home goods at £2,400.

The vote followed a protracted debate in the Commons.

It is the first movement on the issue since MPs voted down reforms to the system earlier this month.

The Liberal Democrats poured cold water on both sets of proposals.

Party leader Nick Clegg said: "Instead of playing games on the floor of the House of Commons, Gordon Brown and David Cameron should join us in agreeing that their parties will adhere to the new scrutiny rules that their MPs rejected last week.

"The cosmetic changes put forward by Labour and the Conservatives simply do not go far enough in bringing much needed transparency to the system of MPs' allowances needed to restore public trust."