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| Debate on plan to end automatic naming of arrested MPs | Debate on plan to end automatic naming of arrested MPs |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| MPs who have been arrested will not automatically be identified under plans being debated in the Commons. | |
| Instead, the MP involved would be consulted and only named if there is an issue of "parliamentary privilege or constitutional significance" at stake. | Instead, the MP involved would be consulted and only named if there is an issue of "parliamentary privilege or constitutional significance" at stake. |
| The cross-party Procedure Committee says revealing names of arrested MPs is incompatible with the right to privacy enshrined in human rights laws. | The cross-party Procedure Committee says revealing names of arrested MPs is incompatible with the right to privacy enshrined in human rights laws. |
| Minister Therese Coffey said it was up to the House of Commons to decide. | |
| In its report, published in December last year, the committee said "the present practice of the House in requiring the Speaker to publish the fact of a member's arrest regardless of circumstance is, in its generalised and non-discretionary application, incompatible with the right to privacy". | In its report, published in December last year, the committee said "the present practice of the House in requiring the Speaker to publish the fact of a member's arrest regardless of circumstance is, in its generalised and non-discretionary application, incompatible with the right to privacy". |
| 'Correcting an anomaly' | 'Correcting an anomaly' |
| The government insisted the change brings MPs into line with the rest of the public. | The government insisted the change brings MPs into line with the rest of the public. |
| A source told the Independent on Sunday: "The anomaly, as far as it exists, is not that MPs are trying to get special treatment - rather, it's the other way round. At the moment MPs are named but the public aren't, so this is just correcting that anomaly." | A source told the Independent on Sunday: "The anomaly, as far as it exists, is not that MPs are trying to get special treatment - rather, it's the other way round. At the moment MPs are named but the public aren't, so this is just correcting that anomaly." |
| The Procedure Committee report revealed that in the last Parliament, Tory MPs Nigel Evans and David Ruffley were named after their arrest. Mr Evans was acquitted of sexual offences and Mr Ruffley cautioned for assault. | The Procedure Committee report revealed that in the last Parliament, Tory MPs Nigel Evans and David Ruffley were named after their arrest. Mr Evans was acquitted of sexual offences and Mr Ruffley cautioned for assault. |
| Former Labour MP Eric Joyce was arrested four times, and Green MP Caroline Lucas was arrested during a anti-fracking protest and later acquitted of obstruction. | Former Labour MP Eric Joyce was arrested four times, and Green MP Caroline Lucas was arrested during a anti-fracking protest and later acquitted of obstruction. |
| Meanwhile it emerged that police have involved in a total of five cases linked to MPs expenses under the current system, with none of the politicians identified. | Meanwhile it emerged that police have involved in a total of five cases linked to MPs expenses under the current system, with none of the politicians identified. |
| Public trust | Public trust |
| In December it emerged that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the MPs' expenses watchdog, had referred three potentially criminal cases to police in March without any public announcement, or identifying the individuals involved. | In December it emerged that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the MPs' expenses watchdog, had referred three potentially criminal cases to police in March without any public announcement, or identifying the individuals involved. |
| The Metropolitan Police opened a fourth investigation in February 2015 into another MP following a public complaint, and is "liaising within IPSA". | The Metropolitan Police opened a fourth investigation in February 2015 into another MP following a public complaint, and is "liaising within IPSA". |
| A Metropolitan Police Service spokeswoman said: "IPSA have made three referrals to the MPS - two in February 2015, and one in June. Of those, two investigations are ongoing. | A Metropolitan Police Service spokeswoman said: "IPSA have made three referrals to the MPS - two in February 2015, and one in June. Of those, two investigations are ongoing. |
| "An assessment of the third referral resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an employee of an MP, receiving a caution in April for fraud by false representation. | "An assessment of the third referral resulted in a 33-year-old woman, an employee of an MP, receiving a caution in April for fraud by false representation. |
| "A fourth investigation, which commenced in February 2015 following a public complaint and in liaison with IPSA, also remains ongoing." | "A fourth investigation, which commenced in February 2015 following a public complaint and in liaison with IPSA, also remains ongoing." |
| The Sunday Telegraph reported that IPSA disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request that it referred a fifth MP to a police force "outside London" in May last year. | The Sunday Telegraph reported that IPSA disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request that it referred a fifth MP to a police force "outside London" in May last year. |
| Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told the newspaper that IPSA has a "public duty" to reveal the identity of those investigated even though people are presumed innocent until they are convicted. | Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told the newspaper that IPSA has a "public duty" to reveal the identity of those investigated even though people are presumed innocent until they are convicted. |
| "If IPSA have referred it it usually means there is some prima facie evidence which justifies a criminal investigation," Sir Alistair said. | "If IPSA have referred it it usually means there is some prima facie evidence which justifies a criminal investigation," Sir Alistair said. |
| "This air of secrecy will erode public trust at a time when public trust is not considered to be very high." | "This air of secrecy will erode public trust at a time when public trust is not considered to be very high." |