Watchdog apologises after MPs' Christmas parties row

Parliament's expenses watchdog has apologised for publishing proposal that MPs could assertion for the outgo of an bureau Christmas party.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) faced a backlash from MPs aft saying they could assertion for festive get-togethers.

MPs connected each sides rejected the guidance, with 1 calling it "bonkers" amid a outgo of surviving crisis.

Ipsa's main enforcement Ian Todd said the assemblage had "got the messaging wrong".

In a letter posted online, helium added that immoderate MPs had had to woody with "phone calls, e-mails and successful immoderate cases maltreatment arsenic a effect of our guidance".

Ipsa had initially defended its approach, saying aft it was published that holding a "modest gathering" for MPs' unit was "entirely appropriate".

In his letter, Mr Todd said Ipsa had produced the guidance pursuing requests for proposal astir applying the organisation's rulebook.

He added that afterwards helium was contacted by galore MPs, who "have made it wide to maine that they person ne'er made specified claims successful the past and person nary volition of doing truthful successful the future. I judge and respect that."

"We got the messaging incorrect by allowing the content to signifier that this is what MPs were wanting to do, alternatively than our mentation of the discretion disposable nether the existing rules," helium added.

"We are an autarkic assemblage and we marque our ain decisions but occasionally, similar everyone, we marque mistakes."

"In issuing it we besides failed to recognise the nationalist temper astatine a clip of terrible economical and fiscal pressures. I americium atrocious for that."

In an update from Ipsa past week, MPs were told they could assertion for "festive bureau events" for unit - arsenic agelong arsenic they were parliamentary successful nature, not enactment governmental and represented worth for money.

The proposal was roundly criticised by MPs crossed the governmental spectrum.

Labour MPs were told it would "clearly beryllium inappropriate" for them to assertion astatine a clip of rising surviving costs. Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain besides said nary of her party's MPs would beryllium claiming, calling the proposal "tone deaf" amid the outgo surviving crisis.

Conservative Former Brexit caput David Davis called the rules "bonkers" and said Ipsa had "missed the temper of the age".

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said helium wouldn't beryllium claiming for a party, and that MPs would person to "justify each spending to their constituents".