This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33673767
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Can Lord Sewel stay in House of Lords? | Can Lord Sewel stay in House of Lords? |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Lord Sewel is facing calls to quit the House of Lords after being filmed by the Sun on Sunday allegedly taking cocaine at his London flat, in the company of prostitutes. | Lord Sewel is facing calls to quit the House of Lords after being filmed by the Sun on Sunday allegedly taking cocaine at his London flat, in the company of prostitutes. |
| He has already stood down from a key role overseeing the work of committees in the Lords and is likely to be investigated by the parliamentary standards authorities and, potentially, by the police as well. | He has already stood down from a key role overseeing the work of committees in the Lords and is likely to be investigated by the parliamentary standards authorities and, potentially, by the police as well. |
| Who is Lord Sewel? | Who is Lord Sewel? |
| John Buttifant Sewel was awarded a peerage in 1996, after a long career in higher education. He worked at Aberdeen University for more than 30 years, firstly as an academic and then as vice-principal between 1995 and 1997 and 1999 and 2004. | John Buttifant Sewel was awarded a peerage in 1996, after a long career in higher education. He worked at Aberdeen University for more than 30 years, firstly as an academic and then as vice-principal between 1995 and 1997 and 1999 and 2004. |
| He was a Labour councillor for many years, leading Aberdeen Council and heading the body which represents all Scottish authorities in the 1970s and 1980s. | He was a Labour councillor for many years, leading Aberdeen Council and heading the body which represents all Scottish authorities in the 1970s and 1980s. |
| As a junior Scottish Office minister in the government of Tony Blair, he helped steer legislation through the House of Lords which paved the way for a Scottish Parliament. As a result, his name was given to the so-called Sewel convention, which allows the UK Parliament to pass legislation on a devolved issue extending to Scotland, over which the Scottish Parliament has legislative authority. | As a junior Scottish Office minister in the government of Tony Blair, he helped steer legislation through the House of Lords which paved the way for a Scottish Parliament. As a result, his name was given to the so-called Sewel convention, which allows the UK Parliament to pass legislation on a devolved issue extending to Scotland, over which the Scottish Parliament has legislative authority. |
| He stood for the Scottish Parliament in its inaugural election in 1999 but was not successful. He is also a member of the Nato parliamentary assembly, attended by politicians from the defence alliance's 28 members. | He stood for the Scottish Parliament in its inaugural election in 1999 but was not successful. He is also a member of the Nato parliamentary assembly, attended by politicians from the defence alliance's 28 members. |
| What role does he have in the Lords? | What role does he have in the Lords? |
| After stepping down as a minister in 1999, Lord Sewel remained active in the House of Lords, serving on a host of committees, including those overseeing procedures. | After stepping down as a minister in 1999, Lord Sewel remained active in the House of Lords, serving on a host of committees, including those overseeing procedures. |
| He also chaired the privileges and conduct committee, which rules on disciplinary matters and can recommend the suspension of peers. | He also chaired the privileges and conduct committee, which rules on disciplinary matters and can recommend the suspension of peers. |
| In 2012, he was also elected as chairman of the committees, a job in which he oversaw the work of the Lords' various committees, and for which he was paid an £84,500 salary. As a result, he automatically became a deputy speaker of the Lords and resigned the Labour whip, becoming a crossbencher not formally affiliated to any party. | In 2012, he was also elected as chairman of the committees, a job in which he oversaw the work of the Lords' various committees, and for which he was paid an £84,500 salary. As a result, he automatically became a deputy speaker of the Lords and resigned the Labour whip, becoming a crossbencher not formally affiliated to any party. |
| Following the Sun on Sunday expose, he has resigned from all these formal posts. He has also been suspended as a member of the Labour Party. But sources have told the BBC that Lord Sewel does not intend to stand down as a peer. | Following the Sun on Sunday expose, he has resigned from all these formal posts. He has also been suspended as a member of the Labour Party. But sources have told the BBC that Lord Sewel does not intend to stand down as a peer. |
| Can Lord Sewel be forced to quit? | Can Lord Sewel be forced to quit? |
| Under new rules which came into force earlier this year, peers can be expelled if they are found to have breached the code of conduct that all members are expected to uphold. | Under new rules which came into force earlier this year, peers can be expelled if they are found to have breached the code of conduct that all members are expected to uphold. |
| The code requires members to act in the public interest, and in accordance with the seven general principles of conduct identified by the Committee on Standards in Public Life - selflessness; integrity; objectivity; accountability; openness; honesty and leadership. | The code requires members to act in the public interest, and in accordance with the seven general principles of conduct identified by the Committee on Standards in Public Life - selflessness; integrity; objectivity; accountability; openness; honesty and leadership. |
| But any investigation into the case is likely to take months and will not begin until any criminal proceedings are completed. | But any investigation into the case is likely to take months and will not begin until any criminal proceedings are completed. |
| In the past, peers have been temporarily suspended for expenses fraud, lobbying scandals and other misconduct but have all ultimately returned to the House of Lords, while Lord Archer remained a peer after being jailed for perjury. | In the past, peers have been temporarily suspended for expenses fraud, lobbying scandals and other misconduct but have all ultimately returned to the House of Lords, while Lord Archer remained a peer after being jailed for perjury. |
| But since 2014, peers convicted of a crime carrying a prison sentence of more than a year are permanently barred from the Lords, as are those who do not attend Parliament for a year, although in both cases they get to retain their titles. | But since 2014, peers convicted of a crime carrying a prison sentence of more than a year are permanently barred from the Lords, as are those who do not attend Parliament for a year, although in both cases they get to retain their titles. |
| Peers are also able to step down or retire on other grounds, such as health, old age or other commitments. More than 25 peers, including a number of former Cabinet ministers, have used this mechanism to exit the Lords this year. | Peers are also able to step down or retire on other grounds, such as health, old age or other commitments. More than 25 peers, including a number of former Cabinet ministers, have used this mechanism to exit the Lords this year. |
| In short, Lord Sewel can decide to, as the phrase goes, "act upon his honour" and voluntarily quit. | In short, Lord Sewel can decide to, as the phrase goes, "act upon his honour" and voluntarily quit. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| Lord Sewel is expected to face an investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Paul Kernaghan. | Lord Sewel is expected to face an investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Paul Kernaghan. |
| If he agrees to conduct a probe, the former police officer will recommend what action, if any, should be taken against him. It will then be up to the whole House of Lords - acting on the recommendation of the privileges committee - to decide what to do. | |
| Labour peer Lord Soley has called on Lord Sewel to temporarily suspend himself pending an investigation by the watchdog, which he said should be carried out quickly. | Labour peer Lord Soley has called on Lord Sewel to temporarily suspend himself pending an investigation by the watchdog, which he said should be carried out quickly. |
| The House of Lords is currently not sitting and will not return from its summer recess until September. However, the watchdog could start its probe and gather evidence in the interim. | The House of Lords is currently not sitting and will not return from its summer recess until September. However, the watchdog could start its probe and gather evidence in the interim. |
| Baroness D'Souza, the Lords Speaker, has said she will refer the matter to the police. If they choose to investigate, this will increase the pressure on the peer to step down. | Baroness D'Souza, the Lords Speaker, has said she will refer the matter to the police. If they choose to investigate, this will increase the pressure on the peer to step down. |
| What does this mean for the Lords? | What does this mean for the Lords? |
| Although few peers have commented on the episode, those that have have acknowledged that it has damaged the reputation of the Lords. Whether it prompts renewed calls for changes to the Upper Chamber remains to be seen. | Although few peers have commented on the episode, those that have have acknowledged that it has damaged the reputation of the Lords. Whether it prompts renewed calls for changes to the Upper Chamber remains to be seen. |
| Critics argue the Lords has become too big - it has more than 800 active members - and that it is an affront to democracy that the vast majority of its members are appointed, not elected. | Critics argue the Lords has become too big - it has more than 800 active members - and that it is an affront to democracy that the vast majority of its members are appointed, not elected. |
| Attempts by the coalition government to move to a largely elected Lords foundered in 2012 amid opposition from peers as well as Conservative and Labour MPs. The issue is not currently a priority for the Conservative government. | Attempts by the coalition government to move to a largely elected Lords foundered in 2012 amid opposition from peers as well as Conservative and Labour MPs. The issue is not currently a priority for the Conservative government. |
| In particular, there has been calls for the way peers are remunerated to be overhauled. Peers who are not ministers are not paid a salary but receive a flat-rate daily attendance allowance of £150 or £300. | In particular, there has been calls for the way peers are remunerated to be overhauled. Peers who are not ministers are not paid a salary but receive a flat-rate daily attendance allowance of £150 or £300. |
| In return, peers are expected to attend and contribute to debates and other proceedings in the House of Lords. | In return, peers are expected to attend and contribute to debates and other proceedings in the House of Lords. |
| But there have been claims that some peers have been "clocking on" to receive the money without undertaking any substantial work in the Lords. One peer, Lord Hanningfield, was suspended for a year in 2014 for claiming allowances for which he was not entitled to. | But there have been claims that some peers have been "clocking on" to receive the money without undertaking any substantial work in the Lords. One peer, Lord Hanningfield, was suspended for a year in 2014 for claiming allowances for which he was not entitled to. |
| But supporters say the current system provides much better value for money than an elected Lords would and it also enables experts in various fields to participate in the legislative system without having to stand for election. | But supporters say the current system provides much better value for money than an elected Lords would and it also enables experts in various fields to participate in the legislative system without having to stand for election. |