Watchdog tells police not to investigate Conway – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Parliament’s standards watchdog does not want the police to investigate the Derek Conway affair, it was confirmed today.”

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The Guardian, 29th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Freedom of Information: FoI opens up government to scrutiny – The Independent

“Ministers and the Commons’ authorities have lost two key battles to keep sensitive information under wraps. Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, says the tide may be turning against those who advocate secret government.”

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The Independent, 29th February 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Met chief intervenes over Conway payments – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Parliament’s standards watchdog has been asked to consider whether the Derek Conway case should be referred to Scotland Yard.”

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The Guardian, 28th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Parliamentary watchdog will not investigate MPs’ expenses – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The Westminster sleaze watchdog will not conduct an independent inquiry of MPs’ expenses for fear of duplicating an internal review headed by the Commons Speaker, it was revealed today.”

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The Guardian, 27th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Information tribunal rules that MPs should disclose details of expenses for second homes – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2008 in disclosure, expenses, news, parliament by sally

“MPs have lost a battle to block the detailed disclosure of expenses covering their second homes, power and telephone bills, and the furniture they buy. The decision is a serious blow to Jack Straw, the justice secretary and former leader of the house, who with the Speaker, Michael Martin, tried to stop the public getting additional information on MPs’ expenses under the Freedom of Information Act.”

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The Guardian, 27th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Review of MPs’ expenses to be sped up – The Guardian

Posted February 26th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The House of Commons committee reviewing MPs’ pay and allowances will complete its report before the summer parliamentary recess, it announced today.”

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The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Smith vows to end ‘confusion’ over bugging rules – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2008 in investigatory powers, news, parliament by sally

“The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, today proposed an end to the ‘confusion’ surrounding rules on the surveillance of MPs after it was announced that Labour MP Sadiq Khan was twice bugged while visiting a constituent in prison.”

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The Guardian, 21st Febraury 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PM and Speaker face accusations of breaking parliamentary rules – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The prime minister and the Speaker of the Commons are the latest politicians to face accusations of breaking parliamentary rules. Gordon Brown will today write to the parliamentary standards commissioner to explain how a misunderstanding over parliamentary rules led him not to declare £1,600 of rent he received from his local Labour party for his constituency office, which is funded by the taxpayer.”

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The Guardian, 18th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Speaker promises ‘root and branch’ review of MPs’ expenses – The Guardian

Posted February 5th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The Commons speaker, Michael Martin, promised last night a ‘root-and-branch’ review of parliamentary allowances as he added his weight to the clamour inside and outside parliament for MPs’ expenses to be made more transparent.”

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The Guardian, 5th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Straw to make statement on ‘bugging’ of MP – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in investigatory powers, news, parliament, terrorism by sally

“The justice secretary, Jack Straw, will make a Commons statement today about claims that a senior Muslim MP was bugged by police while meeting a constituent in prison.”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Alarmed MPs seek ways to police expenses system – The Times

Posted February 4th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“MPs will take the first steps this week towards a more open system for declaring expenses and registering staff.”

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The Times, 4th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Ministers call for tougher rules on MPs’ expenses – The Guardian

Posted January 31st, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Ministers today called for greater openness about how MPs spend public money, in advance of this afternoon’s debate on the suspension of Derek Conway from the Commons.”

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The Guardian, 31st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Expenses row MP will quit seat – The Independent

Posted January 30th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“Tory MP Derek Conway today announced he would stand down at the next election following the controversy over his employment of his son on a parliamentary salary.”

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The Independent, 30th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MP who paid son £44,000 apologises – The Independent

Posted January 29th, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“A senior Tory MP could be banned from the Commons after paying his son nearly £44,000 of taxpayers’ money while he was a full-time university student.”

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The Independent, 29th January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pro-life MPs seek free embryo vote – The Observer

Posted January 28th, 2008 in embryology, news, parliament by sally

“Gordon Brown is facing a revolt by cabinet ministers who are demanding a free vote over the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, claiming that the ethical issues it raises are matters of conscience.”

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The Observer, 27th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MPs’ expenses may be revealed in detail – The Guardian

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in expenses, news, parliament by sally

“The House of Commons has been ordered to reveal the full details of the expenses claimed by six MPs, including Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, it emerged today.”

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The Guardian, 22nd January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

EU reform Bill passes its first hurdle – The Independent

Posted January 22nd, 2008 in constitutional reform, EC law, news, parliament by sally

“The Government comfortably won the first round of its gruelling battle over the European reform treaty last night, after facing angry accusations of betraying the voters.”

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The Independent, 22nd January 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government braced for revolt to force EU referendum – The Guardian

Posted January 21st, 2008 in constitutional law, EC law, news, parliament by sally

“Senior ministers are bracing themselves for the most significant revolt Gordon Brown has faced when Eurosceptic Labour rebels join forces with the Conservatives to try to force a referendum on the EU’s Lisbon treaty.”

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The Guardian, 21st January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Inquiry launched into Hain donations – Financial Times

Posted January 15th, 2008 in news, parliament, political parties by sally

“Peter Hain remained in the line of fire on Monday as a parliamentary inquiry was launched into his donation errors and the Conservatives stepped up the pressure on the embattled work and pensions secretary.”

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Financial Times, 14th January 2008

Source: www.ft.com

MPs may lose right to set own pay – The Guardian

Posted January 11th, 2008 in news, parliament, remuneration by sally

“Ministers want to strip MPs of the right to set their own salaries, the leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, said today.”

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The Guardian, 10th January 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk