MP Simon Danczuk admits wrongly claiming £11,000 expenses – BBC News
‘MP Simon Danczuk has been ordered to repay thousands of pounds after admitting an expenses claims “error”.’
BBC News, 18th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: parliament
Peers defeat trade union funding reforms – BBC News
‘The government has been heavily defeated in the House of Lords over trade union reforms Labour fears will cost it millions of pounds in funding. Ministers want to require Labour-affiliated union members to “opt in” to paying a levy to the party. But peers voted by 320 to 172 to apply the changes to new members only and with a 12-month transition period.’
BBC News, 16th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Goddard inquiry to hold preliminary hearing on abuse linked to church – The Guardian
‘The Wednesday in an investigation into the track record of Anglican churches in England and Wales in preventing exploitation, dealing with perpetrators and helping survivors to overcome trauma and obtain justice.’
The Guardian, 16th March 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
MPs break the rules ‘because they do not agree with them’, says standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson – Daily Telegraph
‘The comments will add further pressure on MPs to beef up the watchdog which polices their work, perhaps by giving members of the public a vote over decisions whether or not to reprimand errant MPs.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Mike Ashley: Could Sports Direct boss be jailed in Big Ben? – BBC News
‘Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has been warned he could be in contempt of Parliament if he continues to refuse to appear in front of a committee of MPs. It sounds serious – but what could actually happen to him?’
BBC News, 16th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Commons sleaze watchdog in crisis as QC rubbishes legal arguments against reform – Daily Telegraph
‘Sir Kevin Barron steps aside from chairmanship of Standards Committee, as Lord Lester describes attempts to stop lay members from being given a vote as “absurd.” ‘
Daily Telegraph, 10th March 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government suffers two defeats in Lords on Immigration Bill – BBC News
‘The government has twice been defeated in the Lords over its Immigration Bill, shortly after losing a vote in the Commons on Sunday trading.’
BBC News, 9th March 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Peers inflict second government defeat on disability benefit cuts – BBC News
‘The government has been defeated in the House of Lords for a second time over plans to cut some disabled people’s benefits by £30 a week.’
BBC News, 29th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
SRA: We want to be accountable to Parliament, not the Law Society – Legal Futures
‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has asked the House of Commons’ justice select committee to assume responsibility for holding it to account once independence from the Law Society has been achieved.’
Legal Futures, 26th February 2016
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Why is the UK still printing its laws on vellum? – BBC News
‘After a reprieve, the UK is to continue printing and storing its laws on vellum, a paper made from calf or goat-skin. But shouldn’t these traditions give way to digital storage, asks Chris Stokel-Walker.’
BBC News, 15th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Analysis: What MPs say is wrong with spy bill – BBC News
‘Everyone agrees a new law governing surveillance powers is required but the devil is in the detail, as a series of parliamentary reports have illustrated.’
BBC News, 11th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
English votes system ‘unstable’ warn MPs – BBC News
‘The new system of “English Votes for English Laws” is overly complicated and may not last long, MPs have warned.’
BBC News, 11th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MPs better placed than judges to decide public interest, says attorney general – The Guardian
‘Politicians are frequently better placed than judges to decide what constitutes the public interest in releasing information about foreign relations, national security and other areas, according to the attorney general.’
The Guardian, 8th February 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
MPs to use Human Rights Act to claim anonymity if arrested by police – Daily Telegraph
‘MPs will use human rights laws this week to prevent politicians being named the House of Commons after their arrest.’
Daily Telegraph, 7th February 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
MPs to debate whether Financial Conduct Authority is up to job of regulating City – The Guardian
‘The Financial Conduct Authority is expected to face criticism on Monday when MPs debate a motion on whether it is up to the job of regulating behaviour in the City.’
The Guardian, 31st January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lords defeat for ministers over disability benefit cuts – BBC News
‘The government has been defeated in the Lords over plans to cut the benefits of people with illness and disabilities.’
BBC News, 27th January 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
There are sound reasons to oppose a ‘love tax’ – once again the Lords is our best protection – The Independent
‘The background to stories of conflict between the two Houses of Parliament has changed during our lifetime. A generation ago, unelected members of the Upper House were notorious for streaming into London from their country seats to vote in vast numbers in favour of reactionary measures like the notorious poll tax, from which they stood to gain handsomely.’
The Independent, 26th January 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MPs’ code of conduct to include test for damage caused by sleaze scandals – The Guardian
‘The code of conduct for MPs is being reviewed, with the possibility of a new test of whether a politician caught up in a sleaze scandal has damaged the reputation of the House of Commons.’
The Guardian, 22nd January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
No case for rewriting FoI Act, says information commissioner – The Guardian
‘Advice given to ministers by civil servants should not be excluded from freedom of information legislation, according to the official responsible for overseeing the workings of the act.’
The Guardian, 20th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
