“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
“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.”
The Independent, 30th January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“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.”
The Independent, 29th January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“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.”
The Observer, 27th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 22nd January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
The Independent, 22nd January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“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.”
The Guardian, 21st January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“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.”
Financial Times, 14th January 2008
Source: www.ft.com
“Ministers want to strip MPs of the right to set their own salaries, the leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, said today.”
The Guardian, 10th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“A motion calling for the disestablishment of the Church of England appeared on the House of Commons order paper today – bizarrely numbered 666, the number associated with the Antichrist.”
The Independent, 10th January 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Ministers will publish a white paper on Lords reform in the spring following today’s damning parliamentary report into the ‘cash for honours’ scandal.”
The Guardian, 19th December 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The deal secured by Gordon Brown on the EU reform treaty is subject to fresh doubts today as a committee of MPs warns that the government has failed in its pledge to retain control of justice and home affairs matters. The European scrutiny committee has demanded a fresh debate on the treaty before it is signed by heads of government because of ‘ambiguous’ wording in the treaty.”
The Guardian, 27th November 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
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