MPs will be banned from buying second homes on expenses after the general election.

The tough new rules announced yesterday have also limited MPs to employing only one family member and barred them from claiming for first class rail journeys.

The new scheme drawn up by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) will only allow MPs to claim for rented accommodation.

And they will not be eligible for accommodation expenses if any part of their constituency is within 20 miles of Westminster or inside a 60-minute commute by public transport.

This will bar 128 MPs in the London area from claiming.

Dewsbury MP, Shahid Malik, who was recently ordered to pay back some of his expenses, welcomed the changes.

He said: “I believe that all MPs ought to accept the proposed new rules without reservation.

“It is crucial that we start in earnest the business of further restoring confidence in our democracy and the measures outlined by Sir Ian Kennedy are an important step forward.

“I myself have already moved to rented accommodation in October last year when it was put forward by Sir Christopher Kelly, and it is a very small price to pay if we truly cherish our democracy.”

Dr Pete Woodcock, a politics lecturer from Huddersfield University, said he was impressed by the raft of changes.

He said: “I think the rule about not being able to make a profit from a second home is only right and proper.

“It removes this absurdity of ‘flipping’ which was plainly wrong.

“I think they got off a bit lightly on the commuting. It seems to me most ordinary people would go greater distances than MPs.”

“I think the rule on one family member is probably reasonable. In any other walk of life it’s acceptable to employ relatives so long as they’re there to do a job and not just take home a pay-cheque.”

Launching the new system in Westminster Sir Ian Kennedy, chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, said the maximum MPs would be allowed to claim for accommodation and constituency office costs each year would be cut from £56,915 to £40,957 for MPs outside the London area.

Those in and around the capital will have their allowance cut from £40,192 to £26,915.

Sir Ian said: “The new system is fair, workable and transparent.

“It will enable MPs to carry out the job we ask them to do and will provide reassurance and value for money to the tax-paying public,” he added.