THE husbands of two South Yorkshire MPs are leading a revolt against a ban on MPs employing relatives.
Steven Wilson, the husband of Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith, even warned the tough set of proposals drawn up by Westminster troubleshooter Sir Christopher Kelly could spark legal action.
Seven South Yorkshire MPs face having to sack spouses or other family members within five years following Sir Christopher Kelly's reforms to clean up the discredited Parliamentary expenses system.
Sir Christopher said the employment of relatives is a "very, very unusual arrangement" and is "something that looks extremely odd".
He said: "Frankly, if the House of Commons wants to bring itself into the 21st century then I don't think this practice can reasonably be allowed to continue."
In a bid to ease anger among MPs, he proposed a "transitional arrangement" that will allow those who employ their relatives to continue to do so for one further Parliament, likely to be five years.
But Steven Wilson, Ms Smith's senior parliamentary researcher, and Phil Cole, the husband and office manager of Don Valley MP Caroline Flint have hit out at the proposals.
They issued a joint statement, with the wives of three Tory MPs, urging the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to reconsider the recommendations.
Their statement said: "We are of the opinion that the family members matter is an employment issue that should have been addressed entirely separately from the rest of an inquiry which relates to MPs' allowances and expenses.
"We are a highly professional group of people, dedicated to serving our MP's constituents."
Mr Wilson said: "There could be court cases and it could be up to the courts to decide what is right and wrong."
Sir Christopher, chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said he had taken legal advice and said the sacking of MPs' family members could be defended "on the basis that this is a proportionate response to a legitimate public objective, in this case the restoration of trust and the integrity of public office holders".
He said legal action following a dismissal would "normally" be taken against the member of staff's employer, which would mean MPs being sued by their own sacked relatives.
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