David Cameron will launch a personal attack against Gordon Brown later, claiming the prime minister is failing to prevent MPs from trying to escape prosecution over alleged expenses abuses.
Three Labour MPs discovered last week they will face criminal charges over abuses of the expenses system. The trio have since declared though they will attempt to use parliamentary privilege to avoid appearing in court.
Mr Cameron will say in a speech later on Monday that if the Conservatives win the coming general election he will change the law to prevent MPs using privilege to “evade justice”.
He is expected to accuse the prime minister of tolerating the “disgusting sight” of MPs behaving in such a way.
Reports during the weekend claimed the legal teams for Labour MPs Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Jim Devine may attempt to argue their expenses claims were covered by parliamentary privilege, a system developed to prevent members of parliament from being sued over what they said in the House of Commons.
The reports have drawn criticism from members of all three main parties, with the MPs urged not to use parliamentary privilege as a defence for their claims.
Mr Cameron is expected to announce later the Conservatives have begun work on a new parliamentary privilege act that would be introduced immediately of they are elected into office later this year.
The Tory leader will also call on the prime minister to remove the whip from the three Labour MPs facing charges.
The government has already reacted to Mr Cameron’s expected comments, with deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman reportedly warning the opposition leader risked jeopardising the trial of the MPs and Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield with his attack.
Downing Street has also accused Mr Cameron of “desperation” in attacking Mr Brown over the actions of the three Labour MPs.
The MPs and Lord Hanningfield all face charges of false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968.
All four have denied the charges.
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