Public welcome Kelly Report recommendations |

Tuesday 3rd November 2009 | 11:44

Public welcome Kelly Report recommendations

Cross-party support for second home plans, but the reforms are not enough to fully restore public trust in Parliament

A majority of the electorate support the main recommendations in Sir Christopher Kelly’s expenses report.

There was overwhelming public support for the rule that any MP who lives within reasonable commuting distance of the House of Commons will not be able to claim for a second home. 88% of the public believe this system is a good idea.

A similarly strong majority, 84%, support MPs being banned from claiming for mortgage payments on second homes, and being forced to rent a second property if one is required.

A smaller but neverthless strong majority, 73%, support inner London MPs having their allowances reduced.

The only recommendation that divides the public is the question of whether MPs should be banned from employing family members. A small majority, 54%, support the ban. This is also the only major reform where there are noticeable difference across party lines – a majority of Conservative and Liberal Democrats oppose the ban, whilst Labour and non-aligned voters support it.

Some way towards restoring trust

Half the public say that the reforms will improve their trust in Parliament ‘a little’, with just 11% saying it will improve their trust ‘a lot’. 38% don’t believe the reforms will significantly change their trust in Parliament.

Mixed views on MPs vote

45% say MPs should not get a vote on the expenses reforms, as Harriet Harman announced last week. 24% believe the government should put the reforms through the Commons as a whipped vote, ordering their MPs to support the bill, and the same number believe the government should give MPs a free vote on the reforms.

This means a total of 48% believe there should be a Commons vote of some form on Kelly’s recommendations, more than the 45% who don’t want a vote at all.

PoliticsHome interviewed 1,210 UK adults by email between 30th October - 2nd November 2009. Results are weighted by party ID to reflect the UK at large.

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