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Gordon Brown has killed a plan to exempt MPs' expense receipts from disclosure that was being drawn up in secret by his senior lieutenants.

The Times revealed today that Sir Stuart Bell, Labour's representative on the committee that runs the Commons, wanted to push through a plan to privatise the "fees office" because he believed it would shield receipts from the Freedom of Information Act.

Sir Stuart's plan is understood to have the backing of the Labour whips, who detest the release of expense data. But it was described by a Commons source as "barmy and wrongheaded" and based on a misunderstanding of freedom of information rules.

Downing Street said this morning that the plan would not be implemented. The move came as Mr Brown offered a public apology today on behalf of MPs of all parties as the row over parliamentary allowances continued to engulf Westminster.

The Prime Minister said that it was essential to rebuild public trust in politicians following the recent damaging disclosures.

In a speech to the Royal College of Nursing's annual conference in Harrogate, he said that where “wrongs” had come to light they should be addressed immediately.

“I want to apologise on behalf of politicians of all parties for what has happened in the events of the last few days,” he said.

Mr Brown's spokesman said that the Prime Minister did not want to see a system of auditing MPs’ expenses claims introduced which would mean they were exempt from freedom of information legislation.

“I think the Prime Minister’s view is that there needs to be tougher auditing, but this should not be at the expense of transparency,” the spokesman said.

The Prime Minister had been satisfied with the explanations given by Labour ministers for their expenses claims, the spokesman added.

The chairman of the Public Administration Committee warned against any move by the Commons authorities to exempt MPs’ receipts from future disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

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