There is increasing pressure on the House of Commons to cease handing out parliamentary passes to ex-MPs, amid fears they might be used to lobby.
Yesterday night, anti-sleaze campaigners warned against ex-parliamentarians being able to access their files.
After the Daily Mail reported yesterday that Owen Paterson, a disgraced politician, will receive a pass to allow him to continue his journey through the corridors and power, even though he’s no longer an MP.
After the Daily Mail reported yesterday that Owen Paterson, pictured (file photo), will receive a pass to allow him to continue his wanderings through the corridors and power even though he’s no longer an MP (file image),
A total of 283 ex-MPs are now able to continue their entry to bars and restaurants, even though they don’t have to register any financial interest. Commons rules ban lobbying.
Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon is the deputy chairman for an oil company. Sir Nick Clegg is ex-deputy Prime Minister and is now head of global affairs at Facebook.
Duncan Hames (director of policy, Transparency International UK) stated: “Ex-MPs can offer privileged acces to their new employers, and this puts temptation in their path.
“Executive MPs will no longer have access to the internet for more than three months after they leave office.”
The former defense secretary Sir Michael Fallon is the deputy chairman of an energy company. Sir Nick Clegg is ex-deputy Prime Minister and head of global affairs for Facebook.
Ex-chairman of the committee standards in public life Sir Alistair Graham said there wasn’t a way to tell if former MPs had complied with the ban on lobbying.
He stated that he was against these passes. My belief is that once you’ve left Parliament, as either a minister or as an MP, you must be done with it. It should not give you any access rights because it encourages lobbying.
“It is difficult to watch what someone is saying when they come into Parliament, whether it is over a meal and a drink or lobbying.
“That’s why we shouldn’t give Commons passes people who’ve left the House of Commons.”
The House of Commons said ex-MPs who are given the passes are forbidden from using them in connection with lobbying.
The spokesman stated that former Members of Parliament can apply for an ex-members’ pass. Eligibility is scrutinized as with all passes.
One of Paterson’s close friends has said that he doesn’t plan on applying for Commons passes.
Sir Alistair Graham (pictured), former chair of the committee standards in public life warned that there is no way to determine if ex-MPs are abiding to the prohibition on lobbying using the passes.