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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MP recall: Zac Goldsmith to force vote on amendment | MP recall: Zac Goldsmith to force vote on amendment |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The government-sponsored Recall of MPs bill will face scrutiny in Parliament later on Monday, after it passed its second reading last week. | The government-sponsored Recall of MPs bill will face scrutiny in Parliament later on Monday, after it passed its second reading last week. |
| The bill proposes that an MP would face a by-election if 10% of constituents sign a petition after the MP is found guilty of "serious wrongdoing". | The bill proposes that an MP would face a by-election if 10% of constituents sign a petition after the MP is found guilty of "serious wrongdoing". |
| Introducing recall powers was a key part of the 2010 coalition agreement. | Introducing recall powers was a key part of the 2010 coalition agreement. |
| Tory MP Zac Goldsmith will introduce an amendment which he says gives more power to the public to force a vote. | Tory MP Zac Goldsmith will introduce an amendment which he says gives more power to the public to force a vote. |
| The bill has been referred to the Committee of the whole House, meaning its individual clauses can be examined by any MP in the House of Commons chamber, rather than the usual committee of between 16 and 50 MPs. | The bill has been referred to the Committee of the whole House, meaning its individual clauses can be examined by any MP in the House of Commons chamber, rather than the usual committee of between 16 and 50 MPs. |
| 'A matter of fairness' | 'A matter of fairness' |
| Under the government-backed plans there would be a by-election if 10% of constituents sign a petition after the sitting MP is either sentenced to more than 12 months in jail, or banned from the Commons for more than 21 days. | Under the government-backed plans there would be a by-election if 10% of constituents sign a petition after the sitting MP is either sentenced to more than 12 months in jail, or banned from the Commons for more than 21 days. |
| Mr Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, has created a rival plan in which MPs are to face a recall referendum if 5% of voters in a constituency sign a "notice of intent to recall" and 20% then sign a "recall petition". | Mr Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, has created a rival plan in which MPs are to face a recall referendum if 5% of voters in a constituency sign a "notice of intent to recall" and 20% then sign a "recall petition". |
| Only if all three stages are passed would there be a by-election called. He plans to bring his amendment to a vote later on Monday - debate on the bill is expected to begin at some time after 17:00 GMT. | |
| Cabinet Office minister Greg Clark said last week that the government's bill was designed to prevent cases such as that of Chris Huhne, the former Lib Dem cabinet minister who resigned his seat after being jailed for perverting the course of justice. | Cabinet Office minister Greg Clark said last week that the government's bill was designed to prevent cases such as that of Chris Huhne, the former Lib Dem cabinet minister who resigned his seat after being jailed for perverting the course of justice. |
| Mr Huhne was not legally required to resign as an MP, a situation Mr Clark said was unacceptable. | Mr Huhne was not legally required to resign as an MP, a situation Mr Clark said was unacceptable. |
| He added: "The fact that it was a choice rather than a compulsion is the loophole this bill seeks to avoid." | He added: "The fact that it was a choice rather than a compulsion is the loophole this bill seeks to avoid." |
| The body which hands down bans to MPs is known as the Commons Standards Committee, and is itself mostly made up of MPs. There is some concern that the current bill leaves too much power in the hands of parliamentarians rather than the public. | The body which hands down bans to MPs is known as the Commons Standards Committee, and is itself mostly made up of MPs. There is some concern that the current bill leaves too much power in the hands of parliamentarians rather than the public. |
| Although Labour back the bill, shadow minister Stephen Twigg said his party would seek to strengthen it. | Although Labour back the bill, shadow minister Stephen Twigg said his party would seek to strengthen it. |
| He said: "We need a system that improves accountability and one that gives more power to the public to hold their representatives to account between elections. That, I think, is a matter of fairness." | He said: "We need a system that improves accountability and one that gives more power to the public to hold their representatives to account between elections. That, I think, is a matter of fairness." |
| But Zac Goldsmith said that under the proposals "it would still be possible for an MP to switch parties, to refuse to attend Parliament, to disappear off on holiday, to break every conceivable promise made before the election without qualifying for recall. | But Zac Goldsmith said that under the proposals "it would still be possible for an MP to switch parties, to refuse to attend Parliament, to disappear off on holiday, to break every conceivable promise made before the election without qualifying for recall. |
| "And the public will discover at the very first scandal that they've been misled." | "And the public will discover at the very first scandal that they've been misled." |
| So far 68 MPs from all parties, including prominent Conservatives and Labour backbenchers as well as UKIP MP Douglas Carswell and Green MP Caroline Lucas, have backed Mr Goldsmith's version. | So far 68 MPs from all parties, including prominent Conservatives and Labour backbenchers as well as UKIP MP Douglas Carswell and Green MP Caroline Lucas, have backed Mr Goldsmith's version. |