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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| MP Patrick Mercer quits Tory whip over Panorama lobbying inquiry | MP Patrick Mercer quits Tory whip over Panorama lobbying inquiry |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MP Patrick Mercer has resigned the Tory whip to "save my party embarrassment" after claims by the BBC's Panorama programme he broke Parliament's lobbying rules. | |
| It is alleged he accepted cash to lobby for business interests in Fiji. | |
| Mr Mercer said he was taking legal advice and had referred himself to Parliament's standards commissioner. | |
| The Newark MP said he would not be standing at the next general election, but there will not be a by-election. | |
| 'Legal advice' | 'Legal advice' |
| Panorama said Mr Mercer had been approached by a fake company set up by the programme, in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph. | |
| The fake company, Alistair Andrews Communications, had claimed to lobby on behalf of Fijian business interests for Fiji to be re-admitted to the Commonwealth. | |
| The country's membership was suspended in 2009 amid criticism of its human rights' record and lack of democracy. | |
| A statement from Panorama said: "Patrick Mercer MP said he agreed to be a consultant for work he said was outside parliament. | |
| "But he submitted five parliamentary questions, which were all answered, as well as an early day motion - all in relation to Fiji." | |
| Under parliamentary rules, politicians are required to declare publically money that they receive beyond their parliamentary salary. | |
| But the BBC's Iain Watson says some paid work should not be undertaken at all. | |
| For example, MPs should not be paid to ask a parliamentary question, table a motion, introduce a bill, table an amendment to a motion or a bill, or urge colleagues or ministers to do so. | |
| In a statement, Mr Mercer said: "Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken parliamentary rules. | In a statement, Mr Mercer said: "Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken parliamentary rules. |
| "I am taking legal advice about these allegations - and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. | "I am taking legal advice about these allegations - and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. |
| "In the meantime, to save my party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative whip and have so informed [Conservative chief whip] Sir George Young. | "In the meantime, to save my party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative whip and have so informed [Conservative chief whip] Sir George Young. |
| "I have also decided not to stand at the next general election." | "I have also decided not to stand at the next general election." |
| MPs who resign the whip can continue to sit in the Commons as independents but are no longer members of the parliamentary party. | MPs who resign the whip can continue to sit in the Commons as independents but are no longer members of the parliamentary party. |
| 'Done right thing' | 'Done right thing' |
| But Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith said it highlighted the need for voters to get powers to force by-elections: "If it's bad enough for you to resign from your party, how can it be OK to continue representing constituents at all? Where's that recall?!" he wrote on the Twitter website. | But Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith said it highlighted the need for voters to get powers to force by-elections: "If it's bad enough for you to resign from your party, how can it be OK to continue representing constituents at all? Where's that recall?!" he wrote on the Twitter website. |
| His call was echoed by his backbench Tory colleague Douglas Carswell. | His call was echoed by his backbench Tory colleague Douglas Carswell. |
| But Conservative cabinet minister Eric Pickles said Mr Mercer had done "the right thing" and it was for the parliamentary authorities to carry out an investigation. | But Conservative cabinet minister Eric Pickles said Mr Mercer had done "the right thing" and it was for the parliamentary authorities to carry out an investigation. |
| A Conservative spokesman said: "The prime minister is aware. He thinks Patrick Mercer has done the right thing in referring himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and resigning the whip. | A Conservative spokesman said: "The prime minister is aware. He thinks Patrick Mercer has done the right thing in referring himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and resigning the whip. |
| "It's important that the due processes take their course." | "It's important that the due processes take their course." |
| Parliamentary records show that in March, Mr Mercer put down an early day motion - used by MPs to draw attention to issues - saying Fiji was making efforts to restore democracy and there was no justification for its continued suspension from the Commonwealth. | Parliamentary records show that in March, Mr Mercer put down an early day motion - used by MPs to draw attention to issues - saying Fiji was making efforts to restore democracy and there was no justification for its continued suspension from the Commonwealth. |
| He also asked questions in Parliament in May about Fiji's human rights record, UK investment in its public transport and the effects of its suspension from, and government policy on, its readmission to the Commonwealth. | He also asked questions in Parliament in May about Fiji's human rights record, UK investment in its public transport and the effects of its suspension from, and government policy on, its readmission to the Commonwealth. |
| Both questions were answered by Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire. | Both questions were answered by Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire. |
| In a statement, the BBC said: "BBC Panorama has been investigating lobbying and the conduct of MPs and members of the House of Lords. | In a statement, the BBC said: "BBC Panorama has been investigating lobbying and the conduct of MPs and members of the House of Lords. |
| "The programme is still being made and will be broadcast as soon as possible. | "The programme is still being made and will be broadcast as soon as possible. |
| "The investigation has raised a number of issues related to those involved. Panorama has sought responses from a number of people, including Mr Mercer." | "The investigation has raised a number of issues related to those involved. Panorama has sought responses from a number of people, including Mr Mercer." |
| Race row | Race row |
| Mr Mercer, a former army officer, was sacked as shadow homeland security minister by David Cameron in 2007 after making allegedly racist comments. | Mr Mercer, a former army officer, was sacked as shadow homeland security minister by David Cameron in 2007 after making allegedly racist comments. |
| It followed an interview in The Times, in which he said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours." | It followed an interview in The Times, in which he said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours." |
| During the furore that followed he denied being racist but accepted his comments might have "hurt" soldiers who served with him and "embarrassed" his party. | During the furore that followed he denied being racist but accepted his comments might have "hurt" soldiers who served with him and "embarrassed" his party. |
| Later that year he was made an adviser on security matters to Labour minister Lord West. | Later that year he was made an adviser on security matters to Labour minister Lord West. |
| The coalition government is committed to setting up a statutory register of lobbyists - companies that seek to influence government policy, often by paying current and former MPs for advice and guidance. | The coalition government is committed to setting up a statutory register of lobbyists - companies that seek to influence government policy, often by paying current and former MPs for advice and guidance. |
| Before the 2010 election, Mr Cameron predicted that it would be the next big scandal to hit British politics, but the policy, which is in the coalition agreement, has yet to make it into the government's legislative programme. | Before the 2010 election, Mr Cameron predicted that it would be the next big scandal to hit British politics, but the policy, which is in the coalition agreement, has yet to make it into the government's legislative programme. |
| The government held a consultation on a statutory register of lobbyists, which concluded in April 2012. | The government held a consultation on a statutory register of lobbyists, which concluded in April 2012. |
| A Cabinet Office spokesman said it was "still considering" the "many different views" articulated by those who contributed to that consultation. | A Cabinet Office spokesman said it was "still considering" the "many different views" articulated by those who contributed to that consultation. |