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Ministers defeated on reform plan Commons defeat over reform plan
(9 minutes later)
The government has lost a vote in the Commons on part of its plans to "clean up" Parliament in the wake of the MPs expenses scandal. The government has been defeated by just three votes on part of its plans to "clean up" Parliament in the wake of the MPs expenses scandal.
MPs rejected by 250 votes to 247 a Parliamentary Standards Bill clause that could allow Parliamentary debates to be used in court as evidence.MPs rejected by 250 votes to 247 a Parliamentary Standards Bill clause that could allow Parliamentary debates to be used in court as evidence.
Senior Commons official Malcolm Jack had said it could have had a "chilling effect" on MPs' freedom of speech.Senior Commons official Malcolm Jack had said it could have had a "chilling effect" on MPs' freedom of speech.
Minister Jack Straw said the government would "respect" MPs' decision.Minister Jack Straw said the government would "respect" MPs' decision.
Tory MP Gerald Howarth said the vote had been a "serious affront" to the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
Earlier in the day, the cross-party justice committee had advised the clause be dropped and several MPs had raised concerns about it during Wednesday's debate.Earlier in the day, the cross-party justice committee had advised the clause be dropped and several MPs had raised concerns about it during Wednesday's debate.
The committee had heard evidence from senior Commons official Malcolm Jack warning of a potentially "chilling effect" of the clause on MPs' freedom of speech - and that of witnesses giving evidence to committees.
In its report it said withdrawing the clause "would allow more measured consideration of issues of privilege than has been possible" in the tight Parliamentary timetable.
The clause would allow Parliamentary proceedings to be used in court against an errant MP, breaking the long standing right to Parliamentary privilege.
Tory MP Gerald Howarth said the Commons vote had been a "serious affront" to the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
The government wants the bill, which also sets up an independent body to run MPs' expenses, to be law by 21 July.The government wants the bill, which also sets up an independent body to run MPs' expenses, to be law by 21 July.
But several MPs had argued it was being rushed through in response to the expenses crisis - when it raises important constitutional matters about the freedom of MPs to speak freely in Parliament.But several MPs had argued it was being rushed through in response to the expenses crisis - when it raises important constitutional matters about the freedom of MPs to speak freely in Parliament.
One proposal, for a legally enforceable code of conduct for MPs, has already been dropped in the interests of "consensus", in an effort to get the bill through.One proposal, for a legally enforceable code of conduct for MPs, has already been dropped in the interests of "consensus", in an effort to get the bill through.
But the government won another vote to keep three planned criminal offences specifically for MPs who break the rules.