Parliament is poised to vote on new rules which will stop sitting MPs receiving generous funding packages if they leave the party they were elected to serve but decide to keep their seat.

At the last general election, 11 different parties were elected to parliament but there are now 17 different groupings following a string of splits.

The change to the rules would stop splinter parties claiming €165,000 in support funding per seat and the bonus for party leaders. The aim, SGP parliamentarian Roelof Bisschop told the NRC, is to make it less financially attractive to form a splinter party.

‘At the moment, an MP who leaves his or her party gets a lot of money,’ he said. With the new rules ‘they will keep basic provisions, such as a phone, an entry pass and an assistant.’

The new rules will come into effect after the March general election. Splinter party members say the changes will create two classes of MPs.