Expenses rules to be tightened

The Speaker of the Commons, Michael Martin, has pledged swift action to tighten rules governing MPs' expenses in the wake of the Derek Conway affair.

Mr Martin said MPs had expressed "deep concern" about allowances after Mr Conway was stripped of the party whip, suspended from the House and forced to announce he would not seek re-election after being castigated for paying his sons tens of thousands of pounds.

As Mr Martin chaired a meeting of MPs yesterday to set new rules governing expenses, pressure intensified for the elections watchdog to be given more control over political donations.