“Crisis meetings are to take place in the House of Lords today over a series of sleaze allegations against peers, the Guardian can disclose. These include accusations that cash has been taken from lobbyists, passes handed out to commercial interests and expenses improperly claimed.”
The Guardian, 31st March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Speaker of the House of Commons yesterday took to the High Court the fight to stop details of MPs’ expenses being disclosed, despite receiving legal advice that he is pursuing a case that he cannot win.”
The Times, 26th March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“A controversial ban on protests outside the Houses of Parliament will be scrapped by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith this week in a symbolic victory for freedom of speech campaigners.”
The Observer, 23rd March 2008
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/
“Membership of the House of Lords could be almost halved under proposals to replace peers with elected members.”
BBC News, 20th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“Nine peers are taking part in a blog aimed at publicising the work of the House of Lords.”
BBC News, 17th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A backbench parliamentary bill that could have excluded the multimillionaire Tory donor Lord Ashcroft from the Lords is likely to fail after Labour and the Tories joined forces to reject the measure.”
The Guardian, 17th March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs will have to submit receipts when they claim office expenses worth more than £25 per item, it was announced today.”
The Guardian, 11th March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“All-women shortlists for selecting parliamentary candidates will remain legal until 2030 under new plans to help create a ‘critical mass’ of 200 female MPs.”
The Independent, 7th March 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Parliament’s standards watchdog does not want the police to investigate the Derek Conway affair, it was confirmed today.”
The Guardian, 29th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Independent, 29th February 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Parliament’s standards watchdog has been asked to consider whether the Derek Conway case should be referred to Scotland Yard.”
The Guardian, 28th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 27th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 27th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The House of Commons committee reviewing MPs’ pay and allowances will complete its report before the summer parliamentary recess, it announced today.”
The Guardian, 26th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 21st Febraury 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 18th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 5th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 4th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“MPs will take the first steps this week towards a more open system for declaring expenses and registering staff.”
The Times, 4th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 31st January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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