Faced with widespread expense account abuse by lawmakers, a majority of Britons in a recent poll are calling for an early national election so they can choose a new Parliament.

Radio phone-ins were jammed Friday with voters debating the merits of an immediate national election, following a poll which showed that 54 per cent of Britons want to go to the ballot box as soon as possible, despite the fact that Prime Minister Gordon Brown says now is not the time.

For the last 15 days, voters have been greeted by front-page splashes detailing lawmakers expense excesses. They have charged taxpayers for items ranging from moat cleaning to floating duck houses, chandelier installation and toilet seats.

The public, facing an economic crisis, is upset with lawmakers over using taxpayer money for things that have nothing to do with their jobs.

The political future of a senior lawmaker with the governing Labour Party was in doubt on Friday after the Telegraph newspaper reported he claimed expenses for a London apartment that was home to his grown daughter and allegedly tried to cover up the arrangement.

An opposition Conservative Party lawmaker was also named Friday by the paper for claiming expenses on a property that was home to her daughter.

Witch-hunt

On Friday, one lawmaker said members of Parliament were worried about more than just their jobs. Conservative lawmaker Nadine Dorries raised alarm bells over potential suicides among members of Parliament.

Dorries accused the Telegraph of launching a witch-hunt resembling the 1950s campaign against suspected communists in the United States by the late Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The Conservative Party office later put out a statement saying her statements were made without its "authorisation or support".

Numerous lawmakers from both parties have been caught up in the scandal, and the poll indicates voters are increasingly inclined to back fringe parties with nearly one in five voters saying that was where their support lies.

Brown is required by law to call an election by the middle of next year and is widely expected to reshuffle his Cabinet next month, possibly demoting some lawmakers tainted by the expense scandal.