Expenses backlash continues to grow

The backlash over the Parliamentary expenses scandal has intensified amid a growing public clamour for an early general election.

The Stockholm Duck Island which MP Sir Peter Viggers installed in his garden pond The 'Stockholm Duck Island' which MP Sir Peter Viggers installed in his garden pond

Polling showed overwhelming demand among voters for the opportunity to punish MPs at the ballot box, as well as high levels of support for fringe parties and independent candidates.

As MPs felt the wrath of their voters as they returned to their constituencies for the Whitsun recess, a former Labour chairman became the latest to announce he would quit at the next election.

Ian McCartney blamed "health problems" for his early retirement but was himself revealed this week to have claimed thousands of pounds for furniture for his second home.

Tory MP, Sir Peter Viggers, broke cover to say he felt "ashamed and humiliated" after it was disclosed earlier this week he had tried to claim for the cost of a duck house.

Fellow Conservative Anthony Steen, who accused voters of "jealousy" over his expenses claims, was advised not to attend a constituency meeting on Friday night because it would be "awkward" for him. He said he had made a "ridiculous and grave" error of judgment, over which he has already signalled his retirement at the next election.

The scale of public anger was laid bare in an ICM poll for The Guardian which found 36% of people wanted an election as soon as possible. Another 30% wanted one before Christmas.

It also found that 27% of voters intended to vote for minor parties, mainly the UK Independence Party and the Greens, in next month's European elections. Only 30% said they would vote Conservative, 24% Labour and 18% Liberal Democrat.

Further evidence of disillusionment with the mainstream parties came in a ComRes poll, which found 63% of voters believed more independent MPs would be good for democracy. Some 53% said they would "seriously consider" voting for an independent candidate, while 78% wanted non-affiliated candidates to stand against MPs tainted by the expenses scandal.

Gordon Brown has been resisting Tory calls for a snap election, although there are reports that some senior Labour figures believe an autumn poll might be an option. Mr Brown does not have to go to the country until June next year.

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