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Standard commissioner quits early Parliament sleaze watchdog quits
(1 day later)
Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer has resigned six months before his term finishes.Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer has resigned six months before his term finishes.
Commons Speaker Michael Martin said Sir Philip had told him by letter on Wednesday that he would remain in the post only until 31 December.Commons Speaker Michael Martin said Sir Philip had told him by letter on Wednesday that he would remain in the post only until 31 December.
Sir Philip was appointed by the Commons in March 2002 and was due to leave on 25 June, 2008.Sir Philip was appointed by the Commons in March 2002 and was due to leave on 25 June, 2008.
The commissioner, wholly funded by the House of Commons, advises MPs on conduct and ethics.The commissioner, wholly funded by the House of Commons, advises MPs on conduct and ethics.
Mr Martin said of Sir Philip's letter: "He records in his letter that he counts it a great privilege to have been able to serve the House in such a worthwhile capacity."
The standards commissioner's job is to be a House of Commons "sleazebuster".
He received and - if appropriate - investigated complaints about MPs who are said to have broken Commons rules, with the most high profile complaints tending to be about MPs' financial arrangements.
He keeps and monitors the operation of the register of members' interests, which is where MPs declare other employment, property and gifts.
Among his high-profile investigations, in 2004 he ruled that then Home Secretary David Blunkett breached MPs code of conduct by misusing two first-class rail tickets assigned to him for his work as an MP.
Before being nominated for the commissioner job after his predecessor quit amid accusations of a "whispering campaign" against her, Sir Philip had a Church role as Secretary General of the General Synod and Secretary General of the Archbishops' Council since 1990.