Second homes cash reprieve for MPs

High-profile MPs living near London look set to hold on to their second homes allowance under plans by the new Commons expenses watchdog.

Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, is expected to axe the allowance for MPs who live within zone 6 of the Underground map.

But although the move appears tough, it would water down a proposal by rival watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly to ban the allowance from MPs living within a 60-minute commute from mainline London stations. Sir Ian did, however, today float the idea of forcing MPs to give back any capital gains made on the sales of second homes bought with the aid of the taxpayer.

In an interview with The Times he said that any such profits should be "surrendered" to the state.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Sir Christopher, came up with its own recommendation last November as part of a raft of reforms. Yet some MPs were furious at the 60-minute commute idea, claiming it failed to recognise their difficulty in getting home to their constituencies after late votes in the Commons.

Seats within an hour's commute include Sevenoaks, Slough, Windsor, Esher, Epsom, Reigate, Woking, St Albans, Gillingham and Basildon.