British Prime Minister Gordon Brown rebuffed on Wednesday growing calls for an early general election after the historic resignation of the House of Commons' speaker in a row over MPs expenses. David Cameron, leader of the main opposition Conservatives and tipped by opinion polls to be premier in roughly a year, warned that angry public demands for change would not be satisfied by Tuesday's ouster of Michael Martin.
Martin became the first speaker to be forced out since 1695 after 23 lawmakers signed a motion of no confidence over his resistance to reforms to the controversial lawmakers' expenses system. Leaked documents showing how MPs (members of parliament) spent public money on everything from food and drink to tennis court repairs and moat cleaning have been published by the Daily Telegraph newspaper over the last two weeks.
During a rowdy Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session, Cameron - praised by commentators for his swift response to the crisis - urged a snap election and told Brown he was "arrogant" and "hopelessly out of touch." "We won't end the paralysis just by electing a new speaker or even setting new rules," he said. "We've got to give the public their voice and the country a chance of a fresh start."
Brown did not respond directly to election calls but stressed his credentials to lead Britain through its worst recession since World War II. "Our duty is not only to change the system of the House of Commons," the premier said. "Our duty also is to take this country through the difficulties of the recession." Brown again said sorry for the scandal during a round of television interviews Wednesday, the day after he tried to move forward by announcing a new wave of proposals to overhaul the system.
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