Lords share work secrets via blog – BBC News
“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
Category: parliament
Bill that could bar Ashcroft from Lords likely to fail – The Guardian
“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
Commons clamps down on MPs’ expenses – The Guardian
“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
Law allowing all-women shortlists extended – The Independent
“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
Watchdog tells police not to investigate Conway – The Guardian
“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
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.”
The Independent, 29th February 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Met chief intervenes over Conway payments – The Guardian
“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
Parliamentary watchdog will not investigate MPs’ expenses – The Guardian
“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
Information tribunal rules that MPs should disclose details of expenses for second homes – The Guardian
“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
Review of MPs’ expenses to be sped up – The Guardian
“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
Smith vows to end ‘confusion’ over bugging rules – The Guardian
“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
PM and Speaker face accusations of breaking parliamentary rules – The Guardian
“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
Speaker promises ‘root and branch’ review of MPs’ expenses – The Guardian
“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
Straw to make statement on ‘bugging’ of MP – The Guardian
“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
Alarmed MPs seek ways to police expenses system – The Times
“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 call for tougher rules on MPs’ expenses – The Guardian
“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
Expenses row MP will quit seat – The Independent
“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
MP who paid son £44,000 apologises – The Independent
“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
Pro-life MPs seek free embryo vote – The Observer
“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
MPs’ expenses may be revealed in detail – The Guardian
“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
