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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Conway to step down at election | Conway to step down at election |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tory MP Derek Conway, who was reprimanded for overpaying his son parliamentary allowances, has announced he will not fight the next election. | Tory MP Derek Conway, who was reprimanded for overpaying his son parliamentary allowances, has announced he will not fight the next election. |
| The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP had the Tory whip withdrawn on Tuesday after the critical report by the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee. | The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP had the Tory whip withdrawn on Tuesday after the critical report by the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee. |
| It ruled the MP should pay back £13,161 of the money paid to his son. He now faces a 10-day Commons suspension. | It ruled the MP should pay back £13,161 of the money paid to his son. He now faces a 10-day Commons suspension. |
| Mr Conway said: "I have concluded that it's now time to step down." | Mr Conway said: "I have concluded that it's now time to step down." |
| He said he did not wish his "personal circumstances to be a distraction" from David Cameron's leadership. | He said he did not wish his "personal circumstances to be a distraction" from David Cameron's leadership. |
| I shall not seek to continue as the Conservative Party candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup at the next election Derek Conway class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7217733.stm">Family jobs ban for MPs? | |
| "I have had tremendous support from my local party, my family and friends, but I have concluded that it is time to step down," he said in a statement. | "I have had tremendous support from my local party, my family and friends, but I have concluded that it is time to step down," he said in a statement. |
| "Since joining the Conservative Party nearly 40 years ago I have had the privilege of serving in public office since 1974 and have done so to the best of my ability. | "Since joining the Conservative Party nearly 40 years ago I have had the privilege of serving in public office since 1974 and have done so to the best of my ability. |
| "I have advised the chief whip and the chairman of my local Conservative Association that I shall not seek to continue as the Conservative Party candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup at the next election. | "I have advised the chief whip and the chairman of my local Conservative Association that I shall not seek to continue as the Conservative Party candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup at the next election. |
| "Though not an original supporter of David Cameron for the leadership of my party, I believe that he has shown he has both the ability and the character to be prime minister of our country. | "Though not an original supporter of David Cameron for the leadership of my party, I believe that he has shown he has both the ability and the character to be prime minister of our country. |
| "I do not wish my personal circumstances to be a distraction in any way from the real issues that have to be addressed." | "I do not wish my personal circumstances to be a distraction in any way from the real issues that have to be addressed." |
| Mr Conway has already apologised unreservedly to MPs for "administrative shortcomings and the misjudgements" he made over the employment of his younger son Freddie while he was a full-time student in Newcastle. | Mr Conway has already apologised unreservedly to MPs for "administrative shortcomings and the misjudgements" he made over the employment of his younger son Freddie while he was a full-time student in Newcastle. |
| Police probe? | Police probe? |
| The standards and privileges committee found the arrangement was "at least, an improper use of parliamentary allowances; at worst, it was a serious diversion of public funds". | The standards and privileges committee found the arrangement was "at least, an improper use of parliamentary allowances; at worst, it was a serious diversion of public funds". |
| MPs are due to vote on Thursday on the recommendation that Mr Conway be suspended from the Commons for 10 days and required to pay up to £13,161 of the cash. | MPs are due to vote on Thursday on the recommendation that Mr Conway be suspended from the Commons for 10 days and required to pay up to £13,161 of the cash. |
| He also faces a possible police inquiry and a further probe into complaints about his other son, Henry. | He also faces a possible police inquiry and a further probe into complaints about his other son, Henry. |
| Scotland Yard has confirmed it has received a letter from Duncan Borrowman, the Lib Dem rival for Mr Conway's seat, asking officers to examine whether a fraud has been committed. | Scotland Yard has confirmed it has received a letter from Duncan Borrowman, the Lib Dem rival for Mr Conway's seat, asking officers to examine whether a fraud has been committed. |
| A Met Police spokesman said: "We can now confirm that we have received the letter. It will take time to look at the contents." | A Met Police spokesman said: "We can now confirm that we have received the letter. It will take time to look at the contents." |
| Staff disclosures | Staff disclosures |
| Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has described the use of public funds to pay Freddie Conway as a parliamentary researcher while he was a student Newcastle as "unacceptable". | Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has described the use of public funds to pay Freddie Conway as a parliamentary researcher while he was a student Newcastle as "unacceptable". |
| The Liberal Democrats say they believe MPs should be more transparent about who they employ. | The Liberal Democrats say they believe MPs should be more transparent about who they employ. |
| "We are currently looking into a process of how we could undertake such an exercise ourselves," a statement said. | "We are currently looking into a process of how we could undertake such an exercise ourselves," a statement said. |
| "Given that this is something which is not currently a reporting requirement we would have to look into the implications this would have in terms of data protection legislation." | "Given that this is something which is not currently a reporting requirement we would have to look into the implications this would have in terms of data protection legislation." |
| Mr Conway's decision came as Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the committee for standards in public life, said banning MPs from employing relatives "could be the right thing to do". | |
| 'Trust undermined' | |
| But while he said he understood calls for a complete ban, this could also be a "rather harsh answer to the problem". | |
| There is nothing to stop MPs employing members of their families and it is thought that more than 40 do. | |
| In a statement, Sir Christopher said it was "certainly an area which needs review" - but said he wanted to see what Parliament proposed to do before deciding whether it was a case for his committee to look into. | |
| But he said Mr Conway's case "further undermines public trust in our politicians". |