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MPs will debate Phillips claims | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
MPs are to debate claims that equalities chief Trevor Phillips tried to influence a parliamentary committee. | |
Speaker John Bercow has given the go-ahead for a debate on Tuesday after a motion was tabled by the chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. | |
The committee had said Mr Phillips spoke to some of its members about a draft report they were writing on him. | |
Mr Phillips has said he does not believe his actions amounted to contempt but was happy to co-operate. | |
If MPs vote for an inquiry by the Commons standards and privileges committee. Mr Phillips, head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, could be called to answer questions. | |
Three members | |
The committee had been investigating the running of the equalities watchdog after a several resignations of commissioners and the chief executive within months. | |
Earlier this month, the committee published a one-paragraph report which said it had emerged that Mr Phillips had "recently spoken to at least three members" about its draft report. | |
Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to a contempt Equalities and Human Rights Commission | |
The committee 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. | The committee 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. |
"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." |
On Monday Mr Bercow said a debate could be held on Tuesday if the chairman of the human rights committee, the Labour MP Andrew Dismore, tabled a motion. Mr Dismore has told the BBC he has done so. | |
Clique claims | |
Earlier this month the Equalities and Human Rights Commission 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." |
The parliamentary inquiry into the equalities body has heard former commissioners claim 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. | |
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. |