Speaker says expenses scandal 'disastrous' for Commons

John Bercow reflected on a tough year for Parliament over MPs' expenses

The Commons Speaker has said the past six months, which saw the MPs' expenses scandal, were disastrous for the standing and reputation of the House.

John Bercow said he backed reforms that would see MPs forced to rent rather than buy second homes, and prevent them from employing their relatives.

He said: "I think the change for the worse over the past six months has been seismic, it has been cataclysmic."

But he told the BBC he did not think the damage was irreversible.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said it was not good enough to think "the fuss will subside, protests will die down, things will return to normal after a passage of time".

The public mood would change only when "decisive, fundamental and irrevocable changes" were made, he said.

Reformer

He said new members of Parliament after a general election next year would bring a fresh approach.

And he would like the public to have improved powers to petition Parliament.

BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said Mr Bercow had cast himself as a reformer since his election to the Speaker's chair in June.

But he is not popular with all the current members of the Commons.

When he was asked about his personal standing, Mr Bercow said he did not give a moment's thought as to whether his position would be challenged and that he tried to rise above any abuse.

"The best response to doubt, scepticism, criticism, and indeed, abuse is not talk but to act," he said.

"I have every intention of continuing, of accelerating, the work I'm doing and redoubling my efforts, seeking to give satisfaction to Parliament."

Parliament was hit by controversy when leaked details of MPs' expenses claims since 2004 were published by the Daily Telegraph in May.

The revelations led to a host of MPs announcing they would stand down, and a revamp of the entire expenses system being drawn up by Sir Christopher Kelly.

An audit carried out by Sir Thomas Legg called on MPs to repay some claims, but 80 MPs are challenging the requests.

Hundreds of MPs, including the three main UK party leaders, agreed to repay sums totalling thousands of pounds.