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Lobbying: Union anger over 'cynical' coalition move Lobbying: Union anger over 'cynical' coalition move
(about 3 hours later)
Trade unions have accused the government of "cynically" exploiting the lobbying scandal to bring in new curbs on their political influence.Trade unions have accused the government of "cynically" exploiting the lobbying scandal to bring in new curbs on their political influence.
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 coalition said on Monday it would introduce a long-promised statutory register of lobbyists by July in an effort to clean up politics.
But - in a surprise move - new union rules will also be included in the proposed bill. In a surprise move, new union rules will be included in the proposed bill.
Labour accused Downing Street of "shabby" politics. But a Liberal Democrat source said the details of the proposals "categorically" still had to be agreed.
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. MP Patrick Mercer and three peers - Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, Lord Laird - have been 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. All deny wrongdoing and their cases are being investigated by standards watchdogs.
'Transparency''Transparency'
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.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.
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. Labour leader Ed Miliband had promised to back legislation to tighten up the rules.
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. 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 trade unions - Labour's biggest backers - to take strike action.
The third-party funding rules will apply to organisations affiliated to political parties - such as the unions - as well as those making major donations of more than £100,000 a year.
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.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 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 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. This is seen by unions 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". The prime minister's official spokesman said the package would "enhance the transparency of the role of third parties in the political system".
Mr Clegg insisted the proposals were not solely aimed at trade unions but would also include other groups, such as animal welfare campaigners, tactical voting groups, rural campaigners, religious groups and individuals, who "spend money to determine the outcome in particular constituencies". Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted the proposals were not solely aimed at trade unions but would also include other groups, such as animal welfare campaigners, tactical voting groups, rural campaigners, religious groups and individuals, who "spend money to determine the outcome in particular constituencies".
He said such groups had spent a total of £3m at the 2010 general election.He said such groups had spent a total of £3m at the 2010 general election.
"What we want to do is make sure this increasingly important type of campaigning is fully transparent and isn't allowed to distort the political process," he told MPs."What we want to do is make sure this increasingly important type of campaigning is fully transparent and isn't allowed to distort the political process," he told MPs.
But a Lib Dem source said: "The details are still to be agreed. This is not about how people fund political parties.
"The details have got to be worked out and we will come forward with proposals shortly... I can absolutely categorically tell you that the details have yet to be agreed.
"The Liberal Democrats will not sign up to anything that is tailored only for the trade unions. That is not what this is about."
Chloe Smith, minister for constitutional and political reform, said the coalition hoped to achieve a cross-party deal on the proposals, which will shortly be published in full.Chloe Smith, minister for constitutional and political reform, said the coalition hoped to achieve a cross-party deal on the proposals, which will shortly be published in full.
'Tit-for-tat politics''Tit-for-tat politics'
But 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. But 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."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.""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."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."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.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.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.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 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.