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| Expenses clean-up bill is passed | Expenses clean-up bill is passed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs' expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent. | A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs' expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent. |
| Just weeks after the Parliamentary Standards Bill was introduced, it is now on the statute book after a series of concessions by the government. | Just weeks after the Parliamentary Standards Bill was introduced, it is now on the statute book after a series of concessions by the government. |
| The bill, which sets up an independent body to authorise MPs' expenses, was criticised by many MPs and peers for being rushed through. | The bill, which sets up an independent body to authorise MPs' expenses, was criticised by many MPs and peers for being rushed through. |
| Ministers said it was vital the bill became law before the summer recess. | Ministers said it was vital the bill became law before the summer recess. |
| They said speedy approval was imperative for rebuilding public confidence in how Parliament works as MPs prepare to leave Westminster for their constituencies. | |
| When the bill was introduced it included provisions for three new criminal offences for MPs, a wide-ranging legally binding code of conduct for MPs and was expected to apply eventually to peers as well as MPs. | When the bill was introduced it included provisions for three new criminal offences for MPs, a wide-ranging legally binding code of conduct for MPs and was expected to apply eventually to peers as well as MPs. |
| Bill 'emasculated' | Bill 'emasculated' |
| But as it returned to the Commons on Tuesday - two of the proposed offences have been dropped, as has the code of conduct while peers have been assured "categorically" it would not apply to them. | But as it returned to the Commons on Tuesday - two of the proposed offences have been dropped, as has the code of conduct while peers have been assured "categorically" it would not apply to them. |
| And a move to allow MPs' words in the Commons - now protected by Parliamentary privilege - to be used against them in court was rejected after a surprise Commons defeat for the government. | And a move to allow MPs' words in the Commons - now protected by Parliamentary privilege - to be used against them in court was rejected after a surprise Commons defeat for the government. |
| Thankfully the expenses scandals will be a thing of the past Justice Secretary Jack Straw The new rules for MPs explained | Thankfully the expenses scandals will be a thing of the past Justice Secretary Jack Straw The new rules for MPs explained |
| In Tuesday's debate on amendments made in the House of Lords Justice Secretary Jack Straw faced accusations the bill had been rushed through for "public relations purposes" and had since been "emasculated". | In Tuesday's debate on amendments made in the House of Lords Justice Secretary Jack Straw faced accusations the bill had been rushed through for "public relations purposes" and had since been "emasculated". |
| Mr Straw said "improvements" had been made to the bill and the three main parties had backed plans for a new Parliamentary Standards Authority but they had to work "from a standing start". | Mr Straw said "improvements" had been made to the bill and the three main parties had backed plans for a new Parliamentary Standards Authority but they had to work "from a standing start". |
| He said it had been a difficult process and he would have been condemned if he had resisted making changes. | He said it had been a difficult process and he would have been condemned if he had resisted making changes. |
| "I think we have achieved a very much better measure as a result," he said. | "I think we have achieved a very much better measure as a result," he said. |
| In a later interview, Mr Straw said the new authorisation process for expenses, combined with full transparency in the disclosure of claims, would mean past abuses could not happen again. | In a later interview, Mr Straw said the new authorisation process for expenses, combined with full transparency in the disclosure of claims, would mean past abuses could not happen again. |
| "Thankfully the expenses scandals will be a thing of the past," he told the BBC. | "Thankfully the expenses scandals will be a thing of the past," he told the BBC. |
| It was obvious that ministers had been required at very short notice to create a bill that had to match the prime minister's press release Alan DuncanShadow Commons leader | It was obvious that ministers had been required at very short notice to create a bill that had to match the prime minister's press release Alan DuncanShadow Commons leader |
| Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said the bill had arrived "in a state of some confusion" and he was pleased "significant" concessions had been made. | Shadow Commons leader Alan Duncan said the bill had arrived "in a state of some confusion" and he was pleased "significant" concessions had been made. |
| "It was obvious that ministers had been required at very short notice to create a bill that had to match the prime minister's press release, initially at least, no matter what the consequences." | "It was obvious that ministers had been required at very short notice to create a bill that had to match the prime minister's press release, initially at least, no matter what the consequences." |
| For the Lib Dems, David Heath said the passage of the bill had been muddled. | For the Lib Dems, David Heath said the passage of the bill had been muddled. |
| Although it had been improved by scrutiny, MPs should be allowed to revisit the legislation in future. | Although it had been improved by scrutiny, MPs should be allowed to revisit the legislation in future. |
| "We then went from having the Parliamentary Standards Act to a sort of amazing vanishing act as things disappeared in the face of very strong arguments." | "We then went from having the Parliamentary Standards Act to a sort of amazing vanishing act as things disappeared in the face of very strong arguments." |
| The Lords amendments were passed without a vote, paving the way for the bill to become law. | The Lords amendments were passed without a vote, paving the way for the bill to become law. |