03.06.13
MPs could be recalled for misconduct by 2015 – Maude
A string of lobbying scandals over the weekend involving MPs and peers from a range of parties has pushed the Government to pledge reform.
Although reforms such as a register of lobbyists and a right to recall, allowing voters to force a by-election, were included in the Coalition Agreement in 2010, there has been little progress to date – but deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has now promised action.
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has said this morning he would be “astonished” if the power to recall MPs found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing did not come into force before 2015.
The proposals follow allegations that one Tory MP, two Labour peers and an Ulster Unionist peer accepted offers of money in exchange for parliamentary services from undercover journalists posing as lobbyists. They have all denied wrongdoing, but have referred themselves to the Parliamentary standards watchdog.
Clegg said he remained committed to “the view that we should end the culture of safe seats – which effectively give MPs jobs for life”.
“We need to be realistic: there is no single, magical protection against an individual politician determined to behave unethically or inappropriately. I know that the absence of the [statutory lobbyists'] register from last month's Queen's Speech raised some concerns. So let me be clear: it will happen.
“Having consulted on the proposal, the detail is being looked at thoroughly in government.”
Maude confirmed that the Government intends to give voters the power to sack MPs by forcing those who engage in serious misconduct to face recall via a by-election.
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme: “We all want it to happen. 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 are going to do this. We need finally to resolve the issues about scope and so on and then we'll get on with it.”
Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey welcomed Clegg’s commitment to political reform, but called for the Government to respond to widespread criticism, “not just blithely carry on regardless”.
“In the case of a lobbying register, the Government’s proposals united the public affairs industry and transparency groups in criticising a proposal that would have exempted the vast majority of lobbyists from the legislation. We need a comprehensive register which insists on financial information; providing huge loopholes will merely encourage the worst behaviour.
“The Government’s proposals on recall made it almost impossible for constituents to sack their MP even where they had been found guilty of serious misconduct. We need a system that puts the power in the hands of voters not the establishment in Westminster. If the system only serves to raise people’s expectations without making a meaningful difference, its only effect will be to increase public cynicism.”
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