She discussed the explosion of public outrage over the scandal in what is understood to have been a candid exchange of views when she met the Prime Minister for their weekly audience at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Details of their conversation - which covered the vital need to restore trust in Parliament - came to light as:The identities of the shadowy figures who leaked the MPs' expenses were revealed.
Speaker Michael Martin told friends he is ready to quit.
A shock new poll put the anti-EU UKIP on course to overtake Labour in next month's European elections.
Public demands for criminal charges against at least five expenses-cheat MPs grew.
Labour's overall poll rating fell to yet another all-time historic low - just 20 per cent.
A Labour MP was discovered to have claimed £125,000 expenses for a run-down garage via his 'office' expenses.
Another Labour MP was suspended for claiming £13,000 for a mortgage that had been paid off.
Neither Buckingham Palace nor Downing Street would comment on the conversation between Mr Brown and the Queen, insisting that it remain confidential. However, well-placed sources say the Queen is 'deeply troubled' by the scandal and had made it clear that she feared it could inflict 'long-lasting damage' to the Commons.
'She won't discuss individual MPs but she feels this scandal has done a lot of long-lasting damage,' said the source. 'She is aware the public feel repulsed by this sort of thing. She is conscious there is a recession on.'
An entirely separate source told The Mail on Sunday that the Queen had expressed her 'disappointment' at the expenses disclosures. (Daily Mail)
