Lawmakers in UK livid as new body tables stringent rules for claiming expenses

London David Cameron and Nick Clegg were yesterday expected to unveil their programme for the first British coalition government since the war.

However, most MPs are not poring over the Lib-Con document which is open for consultation on the Cabinet Office website.

Instead Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs are seething with anger after their first encounter with the new independent body responsible for handling their expenses and salaries.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) was established last year after a collective loss of confidence at the height of the expenses scandal.

In their initial encounter with staff from the new body, MPs were greeted with a written message which said Ipsa will not tolerate threatening or abusive behaviour.

One former minister said: "We are being treated like benefit claimants. Why don't they just put up a metal grille?"

The requirements for payment of expenses appear to be too stringent.

If an MP wants to claim for the travel expenses from the constituency to Westminster of their spouse or civil partner, they must produce their marriage or civil partnership certificate.

If they want to claim travel expenses for a child (under the age of 16 and in full time education) they must produce the original birth certificate.

This is what the rules say: Prior to any reimbursements of this nature taking place, MPs wishing to claim for this will need to submit a completed application form via the online expenses system.

To support this pre-approval, they will need to provide the original certificate of marriage, civil partnership, or utility bill to prove co-habitation.

Evidence for travel for will be the same as for MPs, based on the mode of transport.

MPs in London are already having to lay off staff because the amount they can claim for office costs has been cut.

They are also not allowed to transfer sums for their Westminster office to their constituency offices.

Labour MPs feel particularly aggrieved because they say that, as representatives of less affluent urban areas, they have more casework than Tory MPs.

MPs are not allowed to ask Ipsa staff any questions over the phone. They can only send emails which then form part of a formal audit trail.

Taxis home can only be claimed after 11pm.