The scandal of MPs abusing their second home allowances could be solved by housing them in London's Olympic Village, according to a pressure group.

Politicians would live in the homes currently being built to house athletes competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.

The plans, drawn up by the Taxpayer's Alliance, would allow the Commons to abolish the allowance currently used by MPs to pay for second homes.

The Additional Cost Allowance allows MPs to reclaim the cost of rent or mortgage interest on a property.

It was designed to compensate them for the cost of running two homes, one in London and one in their constituency. But there has been widespread outrage after it emerged that some MPs had been making extravagant claims, such as maintenance for moats or swimming pools.

The Olympic Village, part of the £1.1 billion Olympic Park where most events will be held, is to create 3,000 new homes.

According to the Taxpayer's Alliance, Britain should follow the model of Sweden, which provides MPs with apartments to live in, and turn some of the properties into a politicians' village.

Although the village was originally due to be privately-funded, it has already been bailed out with grants of £650 million from the taxpayer.

Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "We have been paying for MPs' to build their property empires for too long.

"It is clearly necessary to consider radical proposals to ensure that we don't continue haemorrhaging taxpayers' cash every year.

"Money is tight, so taxpayers won't want to see large amounts spent buying second homes for MPs when they are struggling to pay their own mortgages.

"Using the Olympic Village after the Games are over, which is already being built at the taxpayers' expense, would offer an affordable and sustainable way forward and aid the regeneration of the East End.

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