British PM struggles as Cameron takes lead

Agence France - Presse

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The two men clashed in the House of Commons when Cameron - whose Conservatives are leading the opinion polls, just over a year before the next general election must be held - accused Brown of burying his head in the sand over the scandal and urged root-and-branch reforms.

"Isn't it time for us to see ourselves as the rest of the country sees us?" Cameron demanded. "How can we bring about the change this country needs if we cannot change ourselves?" The exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions were their first head-to-head debate since the Daily Telegraph newspaper published six days of leaks detailing the lavish expense payments MPs received from the public purse.

These included claims for fixing swimming pools and a tennis court, installing a chandelier at one MP's manor house and cleaning a moat at a former Cabinet minister's country home. Although the expense claims, which have tarnished all political parties, are within the current rules, they have provoked fury in Britain, which is struggling through its worst recession since World War II. Cameron grabbed the political initiative Tuesday by saying he would force some Conservatives to pay back unwarranted claims.

Public concerns

He went further yesterday, saying public concerns on sleaze should be tackled by cutting the number of seats in the House of Commons. He also wants to force all MPs to publish expense claims online and scrap a communications allowance. Accusing Brown of turning a "tin ear" to public outrage, Cameron said the prime minister's proposal to hold off reform until a committee reports on the issue by the end of this year was too sluggish.

Brown hit back: "I hesitate to say that one or two members of this house getting together can write the new rules of everything. We need independent scrutiny to ensure the public that people have confidence in the system". Brown's reluctance to divert from his chosen course has been criticized by commentators, who have contrasted his approach with Cameron's fleet-footedness. "Mr. Cameron's prompt action did for the Tories what Brown, slower to do the right thing, should have done for Labour. The contrast is a striking one," said the left-leaning Guardian in an editorial yesterday.

Although the row has hit both Brown's Labour and the Conservatives, the situation looks bleaker for Brown because he was already struggling for support ahead of a general election which must be held by mid-2010.