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| Lobbying bill will be brought to parliament by end of July, says No 10 | Lobbying bill will be brought to parliament by end of July, says No 10 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A bill to create a statutory register of lobbyists is to be brought in before parliament breaks for its summer recess next month, Downing Street has announced. | A bill to create a statutory register of lobbyists is to be brought in before parliament breaks for its summer recess next month, Downing Street has announced. |
| The announcement comes in the wake of a rash of lobbying scandals, which saw a Conservative MP and an Ulster Unionist peer resigning the party whip and two Labour peers suspended after it was alleged that they breached parliamentary rules. | The announcement comes in the wake of a rash of lobbying scandals, which saw a Conservative MP and an Ulster Unionist peer resigning the party whip and two Labour peers suspended after it was alleged that they breached parliamentary rules. |
| The bill creating a lobbyists register will also include measures to end self-certification of union membership and reform third-party contributions to election campaigns, said the prime minister's official spokesman. | The bill creating a lobbyists register will also include measures to end self-certification of union membership and reform third-party contributions to election campaigns, said the prime minister's official spokesman. |
| Under the new proposals, unions will be required to carry out an annual audit of their membership and demonstrate that the figures they produce are accurate. The certification officer will be given the power to conduct investigations into the numbers produced, which are vital when ballots on strike action are conducted. | Under the new proposals, unions will be required to carry out an annual audit of their membership and demonstrate that the figures they produce are accurate. The certification officer will be given the power to conduct investigations into the numbers produced, which are vital when ballots on strike action are conducted. |
| Unions also appear to be the main target of the proposed changes to third-party election campaign funding, which will apply to organisations affiliated to political parties as those making major donations of more than £100,000. | Unions also appear to be the main target of the proposed changes to third-party election campaign funding, which will apply to organisations affiliated to political parties as those making major donations of more than £100,000. |
| The reforms will ensure that the true value of activities such as leaflet-printing is reflected when judging whether parties have breached the £19m cap on campaign spending in the year before a general election, said No 10. | The reforms will ensure that the true value of activities such as leaflet-printing is reflected when judging whether parties have breached the £19m cap on campaign spending in the year before a general election, said No 10. |
| When calculating the campaign spending that must be declared, organisations such as unions would have to include not only the cost of printing a leaflet but also overheads such as staffing and rent on premises – which could potentially inflate the figure considerably. | When calculating the campaign spending that must be declared, organisations such as unions would have to include not only the cost of printing a leaflet but also overheads such as staffing and rent on premises – which could potentially inflate the figure considerably. |
| Any body which is paid to lobby on behalf of a third party will be required to put its name on the statutory register, along with details of its client list. Financial penalties will be imposed on any lobbyists who refuse to take part in the scheme, said Downing Street. | Any body which is paid to lobby on behalf of a third party will be required to put its name on the statutory register, along with details of its client list. Financial penalties will be imposed on any lobbyists who refuse to take part in the scheme, said Downing Street. |
| Before the last election, David Cameron warned that lobbying would be the next big scandal to hit politics, and the idea of a register was included in the 2010 coalition agreement, but the government was criticised for failing to include it in the Queen's speech. | Before the last election, David Cameron warned that lobbying would be the next big scandal to hit politics, and the idea of a register was included in the 2010 coalition agreement, but the government was criticised for failing to include it in the Queen's speech. |
| The House of Lords standards commissioner has begun investigating the three peers caught up in the latest lobbying scandal: ex-cabinet minister Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, who have both been suspended by Labour, and Lord Laird, who has resigned from the Ulster Unionists. | The House of Lords standards commissioner has begun investigating the three peers caught up in the latest lobbying scandal: ex-cabinet minister Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, who have both been suspended by Labour, and Lord Laird, who has resigned from the Ulster Unionists. |
| The PM's spokesman said the government will table the lobbying bill before the Commons rises for its summer recess on 18 July and intends to put it into law by the end of this parliamentary session in May next year. | The PM's spokesman said the government will table the lobbying bill before the Commons rises for its summer recess on 18 July and intends to put it into law by the end of this parliamentary session in May next year. |
| Meanwhile, proposals to create a power for voters to recall MPs who misbehave will feature in the government's legislative agenda for the final session of this parliament in 2014-15. | Meanwhile, proposals to create a power for voters to recall MPs who misbehave will feature in the government's legislative agenda for the final session of this parliament in 2014-15. |
| Asked whether any consultation had taken place on the proposals, the spokesman said: "There has been a process of deliberation within the government on the entire package." | Asked whether any consultation had taken place on the proposals, the spokesman said: "There has been a process of deliberation within the government on the entire package." |
| The package will "enhance the transparency of the role of third parties in the political system", said the spokesman. | The package will "enhance the transparency of the role of third parties in the political system", said the spokesman. |
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