London - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologized Monday on behalf of all parliamentarians for the "wrongs" that had come to light in connection with the exploitation - if not abuse - of a generous expenses system.

Intervening in a growing row over expenses, affecting all parties, Brown said it was essential to rebuild public trust in politicians following the damaging recent disclosures.

"I want to apologize on behalf of politicians, on behalf of all parties, for what has happened in the events of the last few days," Brown said in a speech in Harrogate, in the northern county of Yorkshire.

Brown himself has been drawn in to the controversy after details published by the Daily Telegraph newspaper showed that he paid his brother, Andrew, more than 6,500 pounds (9,800 dollars) for a cleaner they shared at their London flats.

The row essentially centres on the issue of expense claims on second homes for members of parliament (MPs), with some instances showing that members sold off a series of second homes at profit after modernizing them on expenses.

But claims for pet food, baby's nappies, tennis court plumbing and gardening have also come under fire, contributing to rising public anger at a time when the country is going through a recession.

After revealing details of the expenses claims of leading Labour politicians last week, the Telegraph Monday continued its series with the exposure of claims by leading Conservatives, to be followed by the Liberal Party.

Most MP's have shown little contrition, saying they acted within the rules and blaming the "system" of expenses which needed to be changed.

However, the row has been highly damaging for the reputation of politics and is seen as contributing to voters' alienation just weeks before important European and local elections in Britain.

A poll published at the weekend showed the share of the vote for Brown's ruling Labour Party has dropped to an historic low of 23 per cent, compared with 45 per cent for the opposition Conservatives.

Brown urged Monday that all politicians should come together to to "clean up" politics and reform the allowances system.

"We must show that, where mistakes have been made and errors have been discovered, where wrongs have to be righted, that that is done so immediately," he said. (dpa)