WARSOP MP John Mann has backed proposals to reform MPs' expenses – despite them meaning he will be forced to sack his wife.
A series of major reforms were recommended in a report by Sir Christopher Kelly following the expenses scandal which hit Parliament during the summer.
They include MPs being barred from claiming for mortgage payments, no claims for gardening or c
leaning and a ban on relatives of MPs being employed by them — which will be phased in over five years.
Mr Mann said he agreed with everything proposed, even though it means his wife Joanna White, who is manager of his constituency office in Worksop, will no longer be able to work for him.
He said: "I totally welcome them. I called for them. I agree the whole package has to be implemented. Parliament shouldn't decide its own pay and conditions.
"I was the person who called for this to be done independently and we can't quibble with it, so we all need to adjust.
"My wife took a huge pay cut to come and work for me and works a large amount of unpaid overtime, but she is paying the price for the extraordinary greed and even criminal activities of some MPs.
"But the system has to be changed and I think on balance the proposals are very good."
He said he would make the staff changes before the five-year limit and it would be 'done properly within employment law'.
