MPs from all parties turned on Prime Minister Gordon Brown last night and accused him of trying to impose a “quick fix” to the row over their expenses.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson accused him of a “cynical attempt to distract attention” from Labour’s “£15billion Budget cuts bombshell”.
And Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesman Alistair Carmichael said Mr Brown’s proposals would do nothing to allay public concerns over what politicians are paid.
There is growing anger at their expenses and allowan-ces since it emerged Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s husband Richard watched adult films at taxpayers’ expense.
The latest row erupted after the surprise announcement of the new proposals from 10 Downing Street on the eve of Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Budget, which is expected to include tough curbs on public spending.
A formal statement by Commons’ Leader Harriet Harman revealed MPs may vote within a week on the package. It would scrap the discredited annual £24,000 London housing allowance for MPs’ whose main homes are in their constituencies, including the much-criticised “John Lewis list” of items ranging from fitted kitchens to plasma television screens for which they can claim.
Mr Brown plans to sweep away the present system by July 1 and replace it temporarily with one under which MPs would receive a daily allowance based on attendance at Westminster.
Those ministers – like himself – with grace and favour homes would not be entitled to the allowance, political staff would be employed direct by parliament, full receipts would be required for everything claimed and MPs’ pension contributions would increase by £60 a month.
Mr Brown said the issue of expenses was “casting a cloud over the whole of parliament” and it was vital to take immediate action to restore confidence that MPs were there to “serve the public and not to serve themselves”.
He warned politicians they needed to show “humility”.
But he faced immediate criticism from Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who have been invited to talks today, and from the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, Sir Christopher Kelly, who warned that the issue cannot be resolved by a “quick fix”.
Sir Christopher said the prospect of the publication of all MPs’ receipts in July “makes this a very damaging issue for them”.
Taxpayers’ Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott said the daily attendance allowance “could work” – so long as it is tightly policed to prevent the abuse MEPs indulged in at Brussels, “clocking on for their cash and leaving to do other work”.
Most Scots MPs were highly critical, but Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran said: “At the end of the day the allowance problem needs to be resolved and this appears to be one way of resolving it. I support the prime minister’s position.”
However, Ochil and South Perthshire Labour MP Gordon Banks, who has a flat in London, said MPs needed to know before voting how much the allowance will be.
If too high it would increase criticism – if too low some might be deterred from seeking election, he said.
Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce warned it could discriminate against MPs who live in their constituencies, travel to Westminster on Monday and return on Thursday, compared with those who live in London and travel at weekends to visit constituencies.
He said MPs with leases or mortgages would have to be given time to adjust.
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander attacked the per day idea for risking bringing “the Brussels gravy train” to Westminster.
He said: “It breaks the principle that MPs should have to account for every penny of public money they spend.”
And Angus SNP MP Mike Weir, among the “cheaper” MPs from Scotland, said: “I see no problem with reducing costs to the taxpayer, but we need somewhere to stay when we are away from home and may have to stay in hotels instead of keeping a flat in London, and I am not sure that will save much.”
Falkirk Labour MP Eric Joyce, who claimed more in expenses than any other MP last year, backed Mr Brown.
He said: “His is a sensible and workable proposal. It is timely and the sooner we do it the better.”
There was speculation that some Labour backbenchers would join Tory and Lib Dem MPs who want other reforms and embarrass Mr Brown by throwing out his plans.