Plaid Westminster leader calls for full legislative scrutiny of new Parliamentary Standards Bill

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader, Elfyn Llwyd MP, has today warned that rushing through a new Parliamentary Standards Bill will mean that the legislation will not stand the test of time.

Mr Llwyd also gave evidence to the Committee into Standards in Public Life today which is looking into the review of MPs expenses system, and at which he stressed these concerns.

Mr Llwyd also raised concerns once again that establishing a ministerial statutory code of conduct could impinge on Members’ right of privilege and freedom of speech.

Mr Llwyd has also advocated a new system which would abolish the controversial Additional Costs Allowance and also the Communications Allowance.

Elfyn Llwyd MP, also a member of the Committee for Standards and Privileges, said:

“This new Bill is being rushed through for political reasons. It needs to be submitted to full pre-legislative scrutiny. My concern is that rushed bills historically have proved ineffective in the long-term.

“A draft bill should be introduced in the autumn and a full debate needs to held in the House when that time comes. The Christopher Kelly commission is already well under way and carrying out some fantastic work.

“We need to fully accept these recommendations rather than hurrying through a Bill just so that the Government can say that it has sorted the issue.

“The issue of transparency is already being addressed to a meritable standard at local government and at the Welsh Assembly. We can take many leads from them in the interim period.

“In terms of a statutory code of conduct, we are in danger of impinging on Article nine of the Bill of Rights. There will be constitutional implications from the creation of one which will need careful consideration.

“We need a robust new system there is no doubt about that, but high-handed gestures from the Government just to prove that they are reacting rapidly to these issues - is not the answer.”

SNP WESTMINSTER LEADER GIVES EVIDENCE TO KELLY COMMISSION

SNP PROPOSE AMENDMENT TO PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS BILL

SNP Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson MP, today (Monday) gave evidence to the Committee into Standards in Public Life where he advocated a system based on that currently in operation at the Scottish Parliament.

The session comes ahead of the Commons debate on the Parliamentary Standards Bill tomorrow, where the SNP Westminster group will present an amendment making it a criminal offence not to declare a relevant interest when speaking in the Parliament.

Commenting, Mr Robertson said:

" Westminster has been dragged kicking and screaming towards reform. We must not stop until we have trustworthy and transparent system in place - the Scottish Parliament sets the benchmark on how that should be done.

“Throughout the all-party talks preceding the Parliamentary Standards Bill, the SNP have consistently argued for legislation which will match that in operation at Holyrood. Tomorrow, the SNP Westminster Group will push forward an amendment which will make it a criminal offence to conceal a relevant interest when speaking in Parliament – ensuring practice in Westminster meets the Holyrood standard.”

Angus Robertson MP the only Scottish politician to give oral evidence to the Committee and – despite travelling to Belfast and other locations in London – there is no scheduled evidence session north of the Border. Mr Robertson added:

“Until Scotland secures independence, Holyrood may have fewer powers than Westminster , but it is abundantly clear that the Scottish Parliament provides the gold standard in setting new standards of democracy.

“A few years ago, when faced with its own difficulties over Members’ conduct, the Scottish Parliament took decisive action and now, Holyrood is a beacon of good practice.

“I find it incredible that, despite a first rate system operating just a few hundred miles from London , the Committee have neglected to conduct an in depth survey. Surely, the point of this exercise is to establish the best possible framework, to restore faith in the fractured UK Parliament.”

Harman blunder in answer to Plaid MP question

The Leader of the House, Harriet Harman, has stumbled once again in responding to a question posed by Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd.

During this afternoon’s (Tuesday) Questions on the publication of Independent Parliamentary Standards authority bill, Mr Llwyd questioned Ms Harman on whether a statutory Code of Conduct could in fact be introduced without being subject to full Bill to introduce it.

Earlier Ms Harman had responded to another questioner by saying that the current Code of Conduct produced by the Standards and Privileges Committee had full statutory authority – a claim that is completely false.

Commenting on Ms Harman’s blunder, Plaid’s Elfyn Llwyd MP said:

“I know that the Prime Minister had set his mind on introducing a statutory Code of Conduct which would have had serious implications for Parliamentary privilege. It would have been difficult, if impossible, to enforce and would have opened up the floodgates to anyone who with negative intentions, would wish to bring MPs before the court.

“He has been thwarted in this view, and now the Leader of the House pretends that the Code of Conduct recently issued by the Standards and Privileges Committee is a statutory code. That is completely untrue.

“It would be necessary to legislate to introduce a statutory code in the first instance, and I am a little surprised that the Leader of the House could not understand that point.

“I will not be surprised if I receive another letter from Ms Harman apologising for being unintentionally misled.”

This is not the first time that Ms Harman has stumbled in response to a question from Mr Llwyd. On a previous occasion, Ms Harman incorrectly answered a question about the origins and reasons for nominating Sir Fred Goodwin for a peerage. The Leader of the House stressed, mistakenly, that the selection had nothing to do with services to banking. Ms Harman apologised to Mr Llwyd on realising her error.