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Lobbying: Parliament security passes to be reviewed Lobbying: Union anger over 'cynical' coalition move
(about 7 hours later)
Commons authorities are to review 80 Parliament security passes following recent revelations about lobbying, the BBC has been told. Trade unions have accused the government of "cynically" exploiting the lobbying scandal to bring in new curbs on their political influence.
Three peers and an MP have been accused of agreeing to do parliamentary work for payment, with the government promising reforms by the summer. The coalition said on Monday it would introduce a long-promised statutory register of lobbyists by July in an effort to clean up politics.
The House of Commons Commission will begin a "validation" of passes issued by all-party groups, a source said. But - in a surprise move - new union rules will also be included in the proposed bill.
The move comes after ministers promised to clean up political lobbying. Labour accused Downing Street of "shabby" politics.
Labour leader Ed Miliband had promised to back legislation to tighten up the rules on lobbying after an MP and three peers were accused of being prepared to offer to do Parliamentary work for payment.
Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, Lord Laird and MP Patrick Mercer all deny wrongdoing and their cases are being investigated by standards watchdogs.Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, Lord Laird and MP Patrick Mercer all deny wrongdoing and their cases are being investigated by standards watchdogs.
The coalition announced on Monday that it would bring forward a bill to create a statutory register of professional lobbyists - whose job it is to influence politicians on behalf of companies and other organisations - before the end of July. 'Transparency'
All-party parliamentary groups are run by and for MPs and peers, although many groups involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their administration and activities. The coalition is committed to introducing a statutory register of professional lobbyists - companies who attempt to influence politicians on behalf of corporate clients - in an effort to increase transparency and cut down on abuse of the system.
'Shabby' But on Monday afternoon it was revealed that the planned bill would also include tighter controls of third party funding of general election campaigns and moves to make it harder for unions to take strike action.
The interests covered are wide, ranging from the affairs of countries to hobbies and social issues. The third-party funding rules will apply to organisations affiliated to political parties - such as trade unions - as well as those making major donations of more than £100,000 a year.
Mr Mercer, who has since resigned the Conservative Party whip, was secretly filmed by BBC's Panorama appearing to offer a Commons security pass to a fake firm that paid £4,000 to ask parliamentary questions. If the bill becomes law, the full cost of campaign expenditure by such organisations will count towards a party's election spending cap at a local and national level.
The Commons Commission, chaired by Speaker John Bercow, will now check the role of the 80 people given passes by all-party groups. These include representatives of businesses, charities and think-tanks. The bill will also require trade unions to carry out an annual audit of their membership and demonstrate that the figures they produce are accurate, in a move to end the current system of self-certification, seen as an attempt to curb strike action.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the package - understood to have been agreed by David Cameron and his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg - would "enhance the transparency of the role of third parties in the political system".
But BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said it was likely to wreck any prospect of cross-party agreement on new lobbying rules.
'Tit-for-tat politics'
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The government is cynically trying to exploit a political sleaze scandal to crack down on unions - which are democratic and accountable organisations.
"We already have some of the most restrictive union laws in all of Europe and this move smacks of naked opportunism.
"Making it harder for working people to take strike action and for unions to support local candidates is not the way to clean up politics."
Darren Hughes, director of campaigns and research at the Electoral Reform Society, said: "Regulating the unions without touching big business is a joke. This kind of tit-for-tat politics is why nothing ever gets done."
Asked whether any consultation had taken place on the proposals, Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: "There has been a process of deliberation within the government on the entire package."
All-party parliamentary groups are also facing a shake-up following the investigation into lobbying by BBC Panorama and two national newspapers.
There are dozens of all-party groups covering everything from the affairs of foreign countries to social issues, such as bullying and accident prevention, to leisure activities such as bridge, angling and beer.
They do not have any official status within Parliament and are not funded by it - but they do receive administrative support from outside organisations and there are concerns they are being used as a way to get round the rules on issuing security passes.
The Commons Commission, chaired by Speaker John Bercow, is checking the role of 80 people given passes by all-party groups. These include representatives of businesses, charities and think-tanks.
The names of the holders are publicly declared in Parliament's register.The names of the holders are publicly declared in Parliament's register.
No passes have been suspended while the investigation goes on.
The coalition pledged to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists when it came to power in 2010, but critics have accused the government of inaction over the issue.
Following the latest revelations, Downing Street said it would bring forward a bill before the end of July.
As well as plans for a statutory register, it said it would include measures to end self-certification of trade union membership and reform third-party funding of election campaigns.
These are likely to be controversial as the unions are large financial backers of Labour.
The end of self-certification for trade unions means they will be required to carry out an annual audit of their membership and demonstrate that the figures they produce are accurate.
A certification officer will be given the power to conduct investigations into the numbers produced, which are vital when ballots on strike action are conducted.
The reform of the third-party funding of election campaigns would attempt to close a loophole in rules governing the cap on spending by political parties during an election period.
A Labour source said including the union measures in the lobbying bill was "shabby... cheap politics".
"The best way to proceed if you want to take big money out of politics and clean up the lobbying scandal is to act on a cross-party basis," they added.
Earlier on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the latest "unsettling but not surprising" allegations were symptomatic of a political system "long crying out for head-to-toe reform".
He said: "We need to be realistic: there is no single, magical protection against an individual politician determined to behave unethically or inappropriately."