This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8124696.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ministers reject expenses delays | Ministers reject expenses delays |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ministers have rejected claims that reforms of Parliament to deal with the expenses crisis are being rushed through and threaten its sovereignty. | Ministers have rejected claims that reforms of Parliament to deal with the expenses crisis are being rushed through and threaten its sovereignty. |
| Jack Straw said it was "imperative" to agree an external body for expenses regulation before the end of July to boost public confidence in Parliament. | Jack Straw said it was "imperative" to agree an external body for expenses regulation before the end of July to boost public confidence in Parliament. |
| But the justice secretary dropped plans for an all-encompassing code of conduct for MPs, saying it was not "essential". | But the justice secretary dropped plans for an all-encompassing code of conduct for MPs, saying it was not "essential". |
| Meanwhile, ex-sleaze watchdog Elizabeth Filkin said the crisis was avoidable. | Meanwhile, ex-sleaze watchdog Elizabeth Filkin said the crisis was avoidable. |
| 'Insular place' | 'Insular place' |
| Ms Filkin, who was removed as parliamentary standards commissioner in 2001 after angering many MPs through criticism of their conduct, said a series of "sensible steps" would have prevented the affair. | Ms Filkin, who was removed as parliamentary standards commissioner in 2001 after angering many MPs through criticism of their conduct, said a series of "sensible steps" would have prevented the affair. |
| She told the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is looking into MPs' pay and expenses, that Parliament was a "very insular place and people feel entitled to all sorts of privileges of one kind or another because of their position". | She told the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is looking into MPs' pay and expenses, that Parliament was a "very insular place and people feel entitled to all sorts of privileges of one kind or another because of their position". |
| There are some really serious issues about the role of Parliament in this bill and I am very worried that we are rushing it through Sir George Young MP | There are some really serious issues about the role of Parliament in this bill and I am very worried that we are rushing it through Sir George Young MP |
| It was sad that "people at the top" had not ensured appropriate systems when it came to expenses, she added. | It was sad that "people at the top" had not ensured appropriate systems when it came to expenses, she added. |
| She was speaking as MPs debated proposed legislation to hand the day-to-day administration and oversight of their expenses to an external body. | She was speaking as MPs debated proposed legislation to hand the day-to-day administration and oversight of their expenses to an external body. |
| Only three days of debate have been scheduled for Parliamentary Standards Bill in the Commons, with ministers wanting it on the statute book before MPs break up for summer recess on 21 July. | Only three days of debate have been scheduled for Parliamentary Standards Bill in the Commons, with ministers wanting it on the statute book before MPs break up for summer recess on 21 July. |
| This has led to claims that the legislation is being railroaded through Parliament and lack of sufficient scrutiny will lead to long-term damage to how the institution functions. | This has led to claims that the legislation is being railroaded through Parliament and lack of sufficient scrutiny will lead to long-term damage to how the institution functions. |
| "There are some really serious issues about the role of Parliament in this bill and I am very worried that we are rushing it through," Sir George Young, chairman of the committee on standards and privileges, said. | "There are some really serious issues about the role of Parliament in this bill and I am very worried that we are rushing it through," Sir George Young, chairman of the committee on standards and privileges, said. |
| Mr Straw said the measures had to be agreed quickly because of Parliament's "collective" failure over expenses. | Mr Straw said the measures had to be agreed quickly because of Parliament's "collective" failure over expenses. |
| "The expenses scandal was not just a matter of a couple of headlines," he said. | "The expenses scandal was not just a matter of a couple of headlines," he said. |
| "It has engulfed this House and its reputation. We face a really serious problem in terms of rebuilding public confidence." | "It has engulfed this House and its reputation. We face a really serious problem in terms of rebuilding public confidence." |
| The bill passed its second reading with a majority of 290. | The bill passed its second reading with a majority of 290. |
| Consensus move | Consensus move |
| But Mr Straw made a concession by agreeing to drop a clause introducing a code of conduct on non-financial aspects of MPs' behaviour which could have stipulated, for instance, how many surgery hours they offer. | |
| He said he was acting in the "interest of consensus" after several MPs and Parliamentary officials had expressed concerns about the measure's likely consequences. | He said he was acting in the "interest of consensus" after several MPs and Parliamentary officials had expressed concerns about the measure's likely consequences. |
| Having offences in this Bill are fundamental to its proper operation Jack Straw | Having offences in this Bill are fundamental to its proper operation Jack Straw |
| Former parliamentary standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer said it could spawn a flood of legal cases against MPs, hamper their freedom of expression and tilt the balance between Parliament and the courts. | Former parliamentary standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer said it could spawn a flood of legal cases against MPs, hamper their freedom of expression and tilt the balance between Parliament and the courts. |
| For the Conservatives, Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan welcomed the climb-down, saying "we can't end the culture of blank cheques to MPs, only to open up a culture of blank cheques for lawyers". | For the Conservatives, Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan welcomed the climb-down, saying "we can't end the culture of blank cheques to MPs, only to open up a culture of blank cheques for lawyers". |
| However, Mr Straw refused to give ground over the inclusion of three new criminal offences in the bill governing MPs' financial dealings. | However, Mr Straw refused to give ground over the inclusion of three new criminal offences in the bill governing MPs' financial dealings. |
| These would see fines and a potential 12-month jail sentence for MPs who area found to have knowingly made false claims, failed to fully declare outside financial interests or breached the rules on paid advocacy. | These would see fines and a potential 12-month jail sentence for MPs who area found to have knowingly made false claims, failed to fully declare outside financial interests or breached the rules on paid advocacy. |
| Several Tory MPs said the offences were unnecessary and redundant as the offences were already covered by existing laws on fraud and theft applicable to MPs. | Several Tory MPs said the offences were unnecessary and redundant as the offences were already covered by existing laws on fraud and theft applicable to MPs. |
| "Having offences in this Bill are fundamental to its proper operation and, above all, fundamental to ensuring public confidence in this scheme," Mr Straw said. | "Having offences in this Bill are fundamental to its proper operation and, above all, fundamental to ensuring public confidence in this scheme," Mr Straw said. |