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| Nick Clegg vows to push through lobbying laws | Nick Clegg vows to push through lobbying laws |
| (4 months later) | |
| The deputy prime minister has pledged to create a "cleaner, better politics" after days of sleaze allegations involving MPs and peers, which he says shows the political system is "crying out for head-to-toe reform". | The deputy prime minister has pledged to create a "cleaner, better politics" after days of sleaze allegations involving MPs and peers, which he says shows the political system is "crying out for head-to-toe reform". |
| Ministers are to revive shelved plans for laws to be introduced before 2015 to regulate lobbyists and recall errant MPs following the allegations, which may have damaged the standing of parliament. | Ministers are to revive shelved plans for laws to be introduced before 2015 to regulate lobbyists and recall errant MPs following the allegations, which may have damaged the standing of parliament. |
| Nick Clegg, who had dropped a coalition pledge for a new lobbying register and powers to recall errant MPs, said he was optimistic the plan could be forced through parliament. | Nick Clegg, who had dropped a coalition pledge for a new lobbying register and powers to recall errant MPs, said he was optimistic the plan could be forced through parliament. |
| Two Tory ministers, whose party had been blamed for blocking the plans, this weekend voiced support for the plans. It follows allegations that Tory MP Patrick Mercer, Labour peers Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie, and the Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird accepted offers of money in exchange for parliamentary services from undercover journalists posing as lobbyists. All four no longer take the party whips and have denied any wrongdoing. | Two Tory ministers, whose party had been blamed for blocking the plans, this weekend voiced support for the plans. It follows allegations that Tory MP Patrick Mercer, Labour peers Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie, and the Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird accepted offers of money in exchange for parliamentary services from undercover journalists posing as lobbyists. All four no longer take the party whips and have denied any wrongdoing. |
| Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Monday, Clegg said the allegations of sleaze were the "political equivalent of Groundhog Day" and "indicative of a wider problem". | Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Monday, Clegg said the allegations of sleaze were the "political equivalent of Groundhog Day" and "indicative of a wider problem". |
| "Westminster remains a place where power is hoarded, decisions are opaque, and the people who take those decisions are not properly held to account. Our political system has long been crying out for head-to-toe reform." | "Westminster remains a place where power is hoarded, decisions are opaque, and the people who take those decisions are not properly held to account. Our political system has long been crying out for head-to-toe reform." |
| He said a cross-party deal on party funding was proving elusive but he wanted to see legislation to enable the electorate to recall MPs alongside a statutory register of lobbyists before the end of this parliament in 2015. | He said a cross-party deal on party funding was proving elusive but he wanted to see legislation to enable the electorate to recall MPs alongside a statutory register of lobbyists before the end of this parliament in 2015. |
| Under the "recall" law, constituents would be able to force an MP who engaged in serious wrongdoing to face another byelection to fight for his or her seat. | Under the "recall" law, constituents would be able to force an MP who engaged in serious wrongdoing to face another byelection to fight for his or her seat. |
| However Clegg warned that the power of recall could lead to "kangaroo courts" which would be "corrosive for our democracy". | However Clegg warned that the power of recall could lead to "kangaroo courts" which would be "corrosive for our democracy". |
| There are already warning signs that some MPs are not happy with a draft version of recall legislation, believing that it will not give any real power to the electorate. | There are already warning signs that some MPs are not happy with a draft version of recall legislation, believing that it will not give any real power to the electorate. |
| Tweeting on Sunday, the Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kensington, Zac Goldsmith, said the new proposals were a "stitch-up". "The Govt will bring in a version of Recall that empowers Party bosses not voters. On every level, it's a stitch-up." | Tweeting on Sunday, the Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kensington, Zac Goldsmith, said the new proposals were a "stitch-up". "The Govt will bring in a version of Recall that empowers Party bosses not voters. On every level, it's a stitch-up." |
| The Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, said he would be astonished if lobbying reform and a right to recall were not enacted before the 2015 election. | The Cabinet Office minister, Francis Maude, said he would be astonished if lobbying reform and a right to recall were not enacted before the 2015 election. |
| "We all want it to happen," he told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme. "It will come into effect. It won't necessarily be in the next Queen's speech because it's perfectly possible we'll legislate for it in this session." | "We all want it to happen," he told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme. "It will come into effect. It won't necessarily be in the next Queen's speech because it's perfectly possible we'll legislate for it in this session." |
| Amid allegations that the coalition government was behind the curve on delivering promises first made in 2010, Maude appeared to blame Clegg for the delay. "This sits within Nick Clegg's portfolio and I'm sure he's working on those answers," he said. | Amid allegations that the coalition government was behind the curve on delivering promises first made in 2010, Maude appeared to blame Clegg for the delay. "This sits within Nick Clegg's portfolio and I'm sure he's working on those answers," he said. |
| Asked whether he could guarantee that the lobbyists' register and the powers of recall would come into force by 2015, Maude said: "I can't absolutely guarantee that because it's not in my power to do that but I would be astonished if that were not the case." | Asked whether he could guarantee that the lobbyists' register and the powers of recall would come into force by 2015, Maude said: "I can't absolutely guarantee that because it's not in my power to do that but I would be astonished if that were not the case." |
| Justine Greening, the international development secretary, said the rules of lobbying would have to be re-examined in light of the latest claims. "I think we also need to look at whether we can go further and be better and clearer about what constitutes fairer lobbying," she told the Murnaghan programme on Sky. | Justine Greening, the international development secretary, said the rules of lobbying would have to be re-examined in light of the latest claims. "I think we also need to look at whether we can go further and be better and clearer about what constitutes fairer lobbying," she told the Murnaghan programme on Sky. |
| Sources close to Clegg welcomed support from Tory ministers but warned that there was much work to be done, especially on recall plans. | Sources close to Clegg welcomed support from Tory ministers but warned that there was much work to be done, especially on recall plans. |
| "These allegations have sharpened everyone's focus but much work has yet to be done. What you don't want to do is for laws to be introduced which allow the recall of MPs for unfair, spurious reasons – for example, for voting in favour of gay marriage," one source said. | "These allegations have sharpened everyone's focus but much work has yet to be done. What you don't want to do is for laws to be introduced which allow the recall of MPs for unfair, spurious reasons – for example, for voting in favour of gay marriage," one source said. |
| Tory officials said Cameron wanted to make sure that any rules did not hinder the ability of MPs and peers to speak freely to companies, lobbyists or trade unions. | Tory officials said Cameron wanted to make sure that any rules did not hinder the ability of MPs and peers to speak freely to companies, lobbyists or trade unions. |
| The current system is designed to work on the basis of transparency and declaration, where members of parliament are asked to declare promptly their financial interests. | The current system is designed to work on the basis of transparency and declaration, where members of parliament are asked to declare promptly their financial interests. |
| The coalition agreement in 2010 said: "We will regulate lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists and ensuring greater transparency." | The coalition agreement in 2010 said: "We will regulate lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists and ensuring greater transparency." |
| Cameron warned in 2010 that lobbying was the "next big scandal waiting to happen". Lynton Crosby, his election adviser, was blamed for cutting plans for a lobbying register from the Queen's speech. | Cameron warned in 2010 that lobbying was the "next big scandal waiting to happen". Lynton Crosby, his election adviser, was blamed for cutting plans for a lobbying register from the Queen's speech. |
| Lobbying organisations expressed concern over plans for a register. The Chartered Institute for Public Relations said that many months after putting forward suggestions for tightening up and devising better regulation, it had yet to hear back from ministers. | Lobbying organisations expressed concern over plans for a register. The Chartered Institute for Public Relations said that many months after putting forward suggestions for tightening up and devising better regulation, it had yet to hear back from ministers. |
| Following a government consultation in January 2012, the CIPR's Andrew Ross said that the responsible minister, Chloe Smith, had not responded to the institute's most recent letters and proposals. | Following a government consultation in January 2012, the CIPR's Andrew Ross said that the responsible minister, Chloe Smith, had not responded to the institute's most recent letters and proposals. |
| "We've written to the minister, offering to meet to discuss their plans. We've even sent them a draft definition of lobbying, which is probably the most important part of the bill, but they haven't engaged with us. We hope they do. We want them to get it right." | "We've written to the minister, offering to meet to discuss their plans. We've even sent them a draft definition of lobbying, which is probably the most important part of the bill, but they haven't engaged with us. We hope they do. We want them to get it right." |
| In a 30-page consultation document last year, the government laid out a possible framework for a statutory register which could force outside interests to log company details, names of employees engaged in advocacy and client lists. | In a 30-page consultation document last year, the government laid out a possible framework for a statutory register which could force outside interests to log company details, names of employees engaged in advocacy and client lists. |
| However, Ross said the government's current idea for a register was not fit for purpose because it would not include all those who lobbied. | However, Ross said the government's current idea for a register was not fit for purpose because it would not include all those who lobbied. |
| Parliamentary rules were tightened in 2009 to clarify that peers "must not seek to profit from membership … by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services". | Parliamentary rules were tightened in 2009 to clarify that peers "must not seek to profit from membership … by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services". |
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