Vince Cable

The continuing scandal over MPs' expenses claim has by-passed local Lib Dem MPs. Vincent Cable, Susan Kramer and Ed Davey have not claimed for second homes, although they are allowed to under current rules.

They have therefore, not claimed for furnishings and other items also available to MPs in outer London. All seven Lib Dems in outer London have refrained from making these claims.

Vincent Cable said: "The last weeks' revelations have done terrible damage to the reputation of Parliament and we are all being affected by it. The main issue for us within commuting distance has been whether or not to claim for a second home near Westminster. Since parliamentary business was changed some years ago to stop most of the late night sittings this is, frankly, no longer justified. Hence, my Party's outer London MPs, including me, do not claim and a few other MPs from further afield - Reading and Cambridge - do not claim either. MPs who do will have to explain to the public why they find it necessary.

"My approach to MPs' allowances is to ensure that I don't personally benefit but I try to ensure, using the allowances, that my staff are of high quality and properly paid and that my office is run on a professional line. But the whole system needs an overhaul very quickly to purge the dishonesty and the culture of maximising personal advantage."