Lawmakers face strict allowance rules

DRAIN the moat, tear down the duck house, fire the housekeeper.

British lawmakers face strict new allowance rules following a scandal over their outrageous expense claims. The rules published yesterday will ban legislators from using expenses to fund swanky second homes and outlaw the use of taxpayers’ money to employ family members as staff.

Christopher Kelly, an ex-civil servant, said an advisory committee he leads has drafted a new regime “shorn of the special features which gave scope for exploitation”.