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'Power of recall' of MPs ditched by coalition 'Power of recall' of MPs ditched by coalition
(about 5 hours later)
The coalition is set to drop plans to give voters the ability to dismiss MPs for "serious wrongdoing". The coalition is to drop plans to give voters the ability to dismiss MPs for "serious wrongdoing".
The idea of a "power of recall", where 10% of an MP's electorate could sign a petition calling for a by-election, was introduced after the expenses scandal.The idea of a "power of recall", where 10% of an MP's electorate could sign a petition calling for a by-election, was introduced after the expenses scandal.
The procedure was promised in the Coalition Agreement, of May 2010. It was included in the Conservatives' 2010 manifesto and their Coalition Agreement with the Liberal Democrats.
A report in the Independent - confirmed by government sources - reveals the draft legislation will not be in the final Queen's Speech of Parliament. The coalition partners have blamed each other amid disagreements over the detail of how recall would work.
The Conservatives and Lib Dems committed themselves to legislation in the Coalition Agreement by saying: "We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents." In their May 2010 governing agreement, the Conservatives and Lib Dems agreed to bring forward "early legislation" to allow voters to force a by-election "where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents".
When a draft bill was published in 2011, there was some criticism that the threshold for triggering the recall of an MP had been set too high.
'Quad' disagreement'Quad' disagreement
When a draft bill setting out plans was published in 2011, there was some criticism that the threshold for triggering the recall of an MP had been set too high.
As well as 10% of constituents having to sign a petition demanding it, a committee of MPs would first have to decide if serious wrongdoing had taken place.As well as 10% of constituents having to sign a petition demanding it, a committee of MPs would first have to decide if serious wrongdoing had taken place.
Now Whitehall sources have said the most senior figures in government have decided not to enact any legislation in this Parliament. Now Whitehall sources have confirmed that draft legislation paving the way for future action will not be in the final Queen's Speech of Parliament, to be unveiled in May.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said it is understood the decision was taken following a meeting of the "quad" group of senior Lib Dem and Tory ministers. BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said it is understood the decision was taken following a meeting of the "quad" group of senior Lib Dem and Tory ministers, Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Chief Secretary Danny Alexander.
The Conservative prime minister and chancellor did not agree with the Lib Dem deputy PM and chief secretary to the Treasury that the necessary bill should be in the next Queen's Speech. Downing Street has declined to comment but Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith, who has championed the idea, said he was "appalled" that it had been dropped from the government's agenda.
Downing Street has declined to comment. He tweeted: "Parties can stuff their manifestos full of clever promises, but if voters don't believe them, they may as well present blank sheets."
"How is it possible that our leaders still don't understand that the single biggest cause of people's hatred of them is deceit?" he added.
'Broken promise'
Mr Goldsmith, who has put forward his own private member's bill on the issue, suggested Mr Clegg - who is in charge of the government's constitutional reform agenda - had failed to push the proposal hard enough.
In an exchange on Twitter with Lib Dem Party President Tim Farron, Mr Goldsmith suggested the two men try to lobby their respective leaders over the issue,
"Let us both visit Nick Clegg & make the case for honouring his recall promise. And then if necessary we can visit DC. Agreed?"
But Mr Farron accused the Conservatives of blocking the plans, telling the BBC there was "no obvious excuse or good reason" for it not to go ahead.
Labour said it was "another broken promise" from the government.
"David Cameron is now backtracking from his own manifesto commitment to introduce recall of MPs," shadow justice secretary Sadiq Khan said.
"And Nick Clegg's claims back in 2010 that he'd be the "great reformer" on the constitution are frankly laughable as he's got nothing whatsoever to show for it."
The government has already abandoned plans for elections to the House of Lords and to cut the size of the House of Commons in the face of opposition from MPs and peers.