“I have nothing to hide,” says Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who explains why he fully supports a major reform of the parliamentary expenses scheme.

Revelations from some parts of Parliament over the last few weeks have been shocking. Claims for moats, flat screen televisions, swimming pools, and hiring interior designers on the taxpayer has been nothing short than outrageous. I, along with people throughout the county, am quite right to be angry.

That is why David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, is right to call for an immediate end to the list of items eligible under the current Second Homes Allowance.

Out with the old system that has been abused by a greedy few. No more new kitchens, luxury bathrooms, surround-sound home cinema systems, or tree planting. David Cameron has rightly turned the tables on the cosy establishment consensus, instead declaring all Conservative MPs will now only be able to claim for their basic housing/rental costs.

The second home allowance will now be tightly monitored by a scrutiny panel and restricted to rent or mortgage interest, utilities, council tax, daily subsistence, and service charges. The days of some MPs claiming for dishwashers, washing machines, DVD players, and £18,000 bookshelves, are over. Quite right too.

It is also right that all MPs should pay capital gains tax when they sell their second home. If constituents have to pay capital gains tax, then so should MPs. The Conservative leader has also put a halt to “flipping”, save in rare circumstances. Flipping is where some MPs have re-designated their second homes in order to be eligible for second home allowance and attempt to fall outside the reach of tax liabilities. This is completely wrong and I am glad it has been banned.

The new Cameron rules are very welcome and I am glad that Gordon Brown MP is supporting them. Most MPs, including me, had never even heard of flipping before this week and have been appalled by what some out of touch MPs have claimed for.

An entirely new allowances and scrutiny system needs to be introduced as soon as possible. But any new system should cost taxpayers less – not more. The cost of politics needs to come down. The new system needs to be open and transparent and be fully audited by an outside body – independent of Parliament and MPs. Further, in future all expense settlements and pay reviews should be taken out of the hands of MPs and, again, be given over to an external and independent body. MPs voting on their own pay and conditions should cease.

That is why, last week, I became one of the first Conservative backbench MPs to voluntarily post his second home costs for 2009 online – and I am grateful to those constituents who have already congratulated me for doing so.

It is quite an uneventful read – no castle moats or tennis courts just basic housing costs for running and maintaining a flat in central London. But it does underscore my commitment to make the expenditure of my office more accountable to those I seek to serve. If MPs have nothing to hide – they should have nothing to fear.

In reforming the pay, terms, and conditions of MPs, the Parliamentary authorities and independent auditors also need to avoid future Parliaments becoming only the preserve of the landed gentry and multi-millionaires. Turning the clock back to the 19th century. Parliament needs to represent people from all socio-economic groups and all financial backgrounds.

Most people accept that MPs, living away from their main home, will have legitimate out of pocket expenses, and that London is one of the most expensive capitals in the world. But taxpayers are also right to expect MPs to be measured, reasonable, and responsible in what they claim for. Claims should be for necessities and not luxuries. That is why earlier this month I voted for urgent reforms to the existing allowances regime and fully support David Cameron’s recent initiatives for change.

The status quo must end. Only then will trust begin to be restored in Parliament and its legislators.