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New laws target rule-breaking MPs New laws target rule-breaking MPs
(about 1 hour later)
MPs who break the rules could face up to a year in jail under plans for new criminal charges for Parliamentarians.MPs who break the rules could face up to a year in jail under plans for new criminal charges for Parliamentarians.
Harriet Harman outlined new offences of making a false expenses claim, failing to register a relevant interest and breaking rules on paid advocacy. Harriet Harman outlined three new offences targeting false claims, registering interests and payments to MPs for raising issues in Parliament.
She also pledged to "look again" at the issue of blacking out details on MPs' published expenses claims.She also pledged to "look again" at the issue of blacking out details on MPs' published expenses claims.
Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said last week's heavily edited publication had been an "unmitigated" PR disaster. Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said last week's heavily edited publication had been an "unmitigated PR disaster".
Ms Harman has been outlining the government's plans for cleaning up Parliament in the wake of public anger over MPs' expenses claims.Ms Harman has been outlining the government's plans for cleaning up Parliament in the wake of public anger over MPs' expenses claims.
'Very embarrassing''Very embarrassing'
Much had already been outlined - including the establishment of an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to run MPs' expenses and the register of interests - but included details of new criminal offences for MPs. Much had already been outlined - including the establishment of an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) to run MPs' expenses and more details of MPs' second jobs - but included details of new criminal offences for MPs.
She said that the new Parliamentary Standards Bill would introduce new criminal offences that would put MPs on the same footing as local councillors and MSPs. She said that the new Parliamentary Standards Bill would introduce new offences that would put MPs on the same footing as local councillors and MSPs.
It cannot be right that MPs decide their pay and allowances or even the rules that govern them Gordon Brown Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn Expenses: options for reform Big black splodges, even if they were on top of completely blank paper beneath, looked like censorship on a massive scale even where it wasn't Alan Duncan Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn Expenses: options for reform
The three offences are knowingly making a false allowance claim, failing "without reasonable excuse" to register a relevant interest or contravening "without reasonable excuse" the rules on paid advocacy - the ban on payment to MPs by interest groups to raise issues in the Commons. The new criminal offences will be knowingly providing false or misleading information in a claim for an allowance, failing to comply with the rules on registration (of interests), and breaching the rules which ban paid advocacy - the ban on payment to MPs by interest groups to raise issues in the Commons.
Making a false claim would be punishable by up to 12 months in jail or a £5,000 fine. The other two would be punishable by fines of up to £5,000. Making a false claim would be punishable by up to 12 months in jail or an unlimited fine. The other two would be punishable by fines of up to £5,000.
Ms Harman also told MPs the issue of hiding chunks of published expenses claims would be "looked at again".Ms Harman also told MPs the issue of hiding chunks of published expenses claims would be "looked at again".
Many details were blacked out when full claims for the past four years were published last week - prompting much criticism from Freedom of Information campaigners.Many details were blacked out when full claims for the past four years were published last week - prompting much criticism from Freedom of Information campaigners.
Public angerPublic anger
Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan described it as an "unmitigated public relations disaster" which "looked like censorship even if it wasn't". Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan described it as an "unmitigated PR disaster" which "looked like censorship on a massive scale even if it wasn't".
He said only the "barest minimum" should be blacked out.
Labour MP David Winnick said it was "very embarrassing" and had lost MPs "further public support".Labour MP David Winnick said it was "very embarrassing" and had lost MPs "further public support".
Ms Harman said the issue would be re-examined, according to the advice of the information commissioner, for the 2008/09 claims.Ms Harman said the issue would be re-examined, according to the advice of the information commissioner, for the 2008/09 claims.
Earlier Gordon Brown said he would not rest until there was "root and branch" reform of Parliament and said the plans amounted to the biggest ever reform of Parliament.
The measures, a response to "public anger" over the expenses scandal, could be approved by August, Mr Brown said.
FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At OneFROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At One
He said he was "determined" to clean up the political system and acknowledged he would be "answerable" to the public over his success in doing so at the next election. She said the "fullest possible information compliant with the Freedom of Information Act" should be put in the public domain - but said there were some exceptions like telephone numbers and credit card numbers.
For the Conservatives Mr Duncan said it was important to respond to public anger but also to have "a Parliament that works and does not become so brow beaten and rules driven that it loses all the confidence and freedom it needs to do its job properly".
He also questioned whether a move to give more details of payments from second jobs, or other outside payments, was "workable".
David Heath for the Liberal Democrats also criticised the blacking out of details from claims saying "acres of black space" was a "redaction to the absurd".
'Root and branch'
He said the plans had his party's "general support" but was concerned about the details of registering non-Parliamentary income.
He was concerned that MPs would be banned from accepting "a cup of tea" from local factories, then asking questions about the industry in the Commons.
Earlier Gordon Brown said he would not rest until Parliament was reformed and said the plans amounted to the biggest ever reform of Parliament.
The measures, a response to "public anger" over the expenses scandal, could be approved by August, Mr Brown said.
"This is root and branch reform," he said. "It has never been done before.""This is root and branch reform," he said. "It has never been done before."
All parties broadly back Gordon Brown's proposal to take control of expenses out of Parliament's hands. All parties broadly back Gordon Brown's proposal to take control of expenses out of Parliament's hands and transfer it from the much-criticised Commons Fees Office to the new IPSA.
Recent revelations by the Daily Telegraph based on a leaked unedited version of all expenses claims made between 2004 and 2008 have led to the resignation of a host of MPs and a police investigation into a number of individuals. Ms Harman is introducing a bill to set up the IPSA, which would consider claims and be able to fine or even expel MPs guilty of serious wrongdoing.
Gordon Brown said Parliament must no longer be able to determine MPs' allowances and responsibility should be transferred from the much-criticised Commons Fees Office to the new independent body.
Ms Harman will introduce a bill to set up the IPSA, which would consider claims and be able to fine or even expel MPs guilty of serious wrongdoing.
The bill will also include obligations for MPs to disclose details of their outside financial interests including income from second jobs.The bill will also include obligations for MPs to disclose details of their outside financial interests including income from second jobs.
Gardening and cleaning
A new code of conduct, outlining what constituents can expect from their MPs, is also being proposed.A new code of conduct, outlining what constituents can expect from their MPs, is also being proposed.
The head of the new regulator and its members would be chosen in an "fair and independent" manner, Mr Brown added, while all future expenses claims and the rules governing them would be published in full. Revelations by the Daily Telegraph based on a leaked unedited version of all expenses claims made between 2004 and 2008 have led to the resignation of a host of MPs and a police investigation into a number of individuals.
Mr Brown has acknowledged that tougher rules will not be not enough and Parliament must embrace a new culture of "self-restraint".Mr Brown has acknowledged that tougher rules will not be not enough and Parliament must embrace a new culture of "self-restraint".
Opposition parties support, in principle, the role of an external regulator although areas such as the declaration of outside financial interests will be more controversial.Opposition parties support, in principle, the role of an external regulator although areas such as the declaration of outside financial interests will be more controversial.
Mr Brown denied he had pushed ahead with the proposals without consulting the opposition. The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life is expected to propose permanent changes to the system of MPs' pay and allowances in the autumn.
He said party leaders had agreed a series of interim changes to expenses last month, including a cap on what MPs can claim in mortgage interest and an end to claims in contested areas such as furniture, gardening and cleaning.
Mr Brown has asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life to propose permanent changes to the system of MPs' pay and allowances by the end of the year.
Many MPs - including the new Commons Speaker John Bercow - have urged the government to accept its recommendations in full.Many MPs - including the new Commons Speaker John Bercow - have urged the government to accept its recommendations in full.