“Moves to stage a referendum on scrapping the first-past-the-post electoral system have been abandoned as the parties wrangle over legislation to be rushed into law ahead of the general election. The Government has also dropped proposals to phase out the right of hereditary peers to sit in the House of Lords.”
The Independent, 7th April 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Jack Straw has spent 13 years in the cabinet without ever quite reaching the top. He talks about the art of survival, reform of the Lords and why he supported the Iraq war.”
The Guardian, 29th March 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The justice secretary, Jack Straw, has insisted that, despite Lord Mandelson’s opposition, Labour is poised to announce its commitment to an elected second chamber to replace the House of Lords.”
The Guardian, 29th March 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The parliamentary watchdog has warned MPs that his organisation will come down on them ‘like a ton of bricks’ if they break new expenses rules, saying those who cheat could be fined or have pay docked.”
The Guardian, 22nd March 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Guidance to candidates standing at the parliamentary general election on publishing declarations of interests, is published today.”
Minsitry of Justice, 22nd March 2010
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, today announced that there will be no charges in relation to Baroness Uddin’s claims for parliamentary expenses.”
Crown Prosecution Service, 12th March 2010
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
“Labour peer Baroness Uddin will not face charges over her expenses, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.”
BBC News, 12th March 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Trevor Phillips, the head of the equalities watchdog, was today accused of attempting to influence an official inquiry into his work and may face a high-level investigation into allegations that his actions amount to contempt of both houses of parliament.”
The Guardian, 10th February 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Sir Paul Kennedy, the former judge dealing with MPs’ appeals against demands for repayments after the expenses scandal, was deeply critical of the ’damaging and unfair’ penalties today as he granted the majority of the 75 appeals.”
The Guardian, 4th February 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The way Britain is governed has gone wrong and is in urgent need of reform, a group of former Whitehall chiefs has warned in a highly critical report.”
BBC News, 27th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A five-week public consultation on the reform of MPs’ expenses was launched today as the new parliamentary expenses watchdog appeared to soften proposals on MPs claiming for second homes and employing family members.”
The Guardian, 7th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Trafigura, the offshore oil trader that became notorious for legal attempts to suppress reporting of parliament, is going back to Britain’s judges tomorrow.”
The Guardian, 7th January 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Details of how MPs’ expenses will be overhauled are to be outlined as part of a public consultation on changes to the now discredited former system.”
BBC News, 7th January 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Further legislation will be introduced by the government to implement proposals put forward by Sir Christopher Kelly on the reform of the MPs’ expenses and allowances system.”
Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“MPs who abuse their expenses face being fined under new proposals to beef up the role of Parliament’s standards watchdog.”
The Independent, 10th December 2009
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“An abridged version of a lecture given by Jack Straw at Brunel University’s Magna Carta Institute on Monday 23 November 2009.”
Ministry of Justice, 24th November 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Prosecutors have been asked to consider charging four parliamentarians in relation to expenses abuses, Scotland Yard said today.”
The Guardian, 23rd November 2009
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs who refuse to repay excessive or incorrect expenses claims could be forced to appear in public before a High Court judge to plead their case.”
Daily Telegraph, 8th November 2009
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“Professor Sir Ian Kennedy has not been offered the job, but his appointment was approved by the Speaker’s Committee, the group of senior MPs in charge of selecting the board of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) which will replace the fees office. That clears the way for his name to be put before MPs today.”
Daily Telegraph, 4th November 2009
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“The House of Lords is set to get its own standards watchdog in the wake of cash for influence allegations, Lords leader Baroness Royall has said.”
BBC News, 29th October 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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