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| Phillips facing contempt inquiry | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Equalities chief Trevor Phillips faces a possible investigation by Parliament over claims he tried to influence a committee drawing up a report. | |
| The joint human rights committee said he had spoken to at least three of its members about its draft report. | The joint human rights committee said he had spoken to at least three of its members about its draft report. |
| It was investigating the Equalities and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] after several commissioners resigned. | It was investigating the Equalities and Human Rights Commission [EHRC] after several commissioners resigned. |
| The EHRC said it was unaware of any reason why his actions would amount to contempt but was happy to co-operate. | The EHRC said it was unaware of any reason why his actions would amount to contempt but was happy to co-operate. |
| The joint committee of MPs and peers published a special one paragraph report on Wednesday saying that at the start of their meeting on 9 February, it had emerged Mr Phillips had "recently spoken to at least three members" about consideration of a draft report and the publication of written evidence. | The joint committee of MPs and peers published a special one paragraph report on Wednesday saying that at the start of their meeting on 9 February, it had emerged Mr Phillips had "recently spoken to at least three members" about consideration of a draft report and the publication of written evidence. |
| Investigation recommended | Investigation recommended |
| "In our view these discussions could constitute a contempt of both Houses in that they may be an attempt to influence the views of certain members of the committee shortly before it considered a draft report directly relevant to Mr Phillips in his role as chair of the EHRC," it said. | "In our view these discussions could constitute a contempt of both Houses in that they may be an attempt to influence the views of certain members of the committee shortly before it considered a draft report directly relevant to Mr Phillips in his role as chair of the EHRC," it said. |
| "We recommend that the matter should be subject to investigation by the privileges committees of both Houses." | "We recommend that the matter should be subject to investigation by the privileges committees of both Houses." |
| Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to a contempt of the Houses of Parliament EHRC statement | Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to a contempt of the Houses of Parliament EHRC statement |
| Committee chairman Andrew Dismore said that he had submitted a formal request to Commons Speaker John Bercow for the matter to be put to MPs. | |
| Mr Bercow will need to decide whether to grant it parliamentary time - MPs would decide whether it should be investigated by the standards and privileges committee. | |
| It is rare for non-politicians to be investigated for contempt of Parliament - the last to be called to the House to be formally rebuked was Sunday Express editor John Junor in 1957. | |
| But in January the Commons backed a contempt investigation into a law firm which Lib Dem MP John Hemming had complained had tried to intimidate him. | |
| The joint committee on human rights decided to hold an inquiry into the EHRC in July 2009, following resignations by four commissioners and the chief executive within months. | |
| Former commissioners have told the inquiry there was a "culture of intimidation" and a "clique that the chair surrounded himself with". | Former commissioners have told the inquiry there was a "culture of intimidation" and a "clique that the chair surrounded himself with". |
| But in his evidence to the committee in December, Mr Phillips said "arguments" and "passions" were part of the EHRC's role as it was dealing with difficult issues. | But in his evidence to the committee in December, Mr Phillips said "arguments" and "passions" were part of the EHRC's role as it was dealing with difficult issues. |
| In a statement about the committee's allegation of contempt, the EHRC said: "Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to a contempt of the Houses of Parliament. | In a statement about the committee's allegation of contempt, the EHRC said: "Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to a contempt of the Houses of Parliament. |
| "Should the parliamentary authorities decide to take this matter further both Mr Phillips and the commission would be happy to cooperate fully." | "Should the parliamentary authorities decide to take this matter further both Mr Phillips and the commission would be happy to cooperate fully." |