Brit Parliament roils in expenses scandal

LONDON, May 23 (UPI) -- Scores of members of Britain's Parliament have claimed extra expenses because they employ relatives, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The newspaper said its investigation turned up more than 200 lawmakers used the hiring of relatives to claim additional expenses. Some, the Telegraph said, claimed money for a main home, in addition to their second home, because their spouse works there on parliamentary business.

Alleged abuse of parliamentary expense reimbursements has created a firestorm of criticism of British lawmakers.

Members of Parliament Andrew Mackay and Ian McCartney, both caught up in the revelations, said Saturday they would leave office at the next election, the Telegraph said.

While the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has been criticized for saying the members of Parliament were being subjected to "systematic humiliation" that threatens the nation's democracy, one Labor lawmaker said he "totally disagrees."

"The public has a right to know," said Member of Parliament John Mann. "If Parliament and the political parties handle this well, a lot of good will come out of this."

The British public's wrath appears to be growing. An ICM opinion poll indicates two-thirds of voters want Prime Minister Gordon Brown to call a general election before Christmas.