Amazingly, MPs in the Commons have voted to retain the "John Lewis list" system, whereby MPs claim for furniture. They rejected external audits in favour of internal ones.
Gordon Brown wanted reform, but apparently he has as much control over his own front bench as Nick Clegg has over LibDem peers.
The BBC reports that more than 30 ministers voted to retain the John Lewis list - I'll be checking to see if Corby's MP was one of them. Those voting in favour of keeping the ACA included, amazingly, Jacqui Smith, Andy Burnham and David Cameron's predecessor in Witney, Shaun Woodward, for whom apparently the 20 million pound mansion and the butler are insufficent.
To top it all off, Gordon Brown's own PPSes voted for the ACA and only internal scrutiny!
Chris Grayling and Nigel Evans MP came out quickly with robust responses. The Beeb reports that David Cameron, on the front bench after the vote, was heard to exclaim "Where's the government?".
Where indeed? And will Brown do anything to discipline his Cabinet and PPSes? I wouldn't hold your breath.
