Lindsay Hoyle directs review of access granted to ex-MPs after their resignations: Speaker attacks former MPs’ Commons passes










The Commons Speaker has demanded an end to the practice of handing parliamentary passes to ex-MPs who work as lobbyists.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle requested a review of the privilege access rights granted to ex-members after they resigned.

This comes just days after The Daily Mail announced that Owen Paterson was disgraced and will be granted a pass so that he can roam the corridors to power, even though Owen is no longer an MP.

Parliament Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, pictured, has ordered a review into the privileged access rights afforded to former members after they step down

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is the Parliament Speaker. He has asked for a review on the privileges granted former members following their retirement.

Some 283 former MPs have passes that give them continued entry, including to Parliament’s restaurants and bars, without being required to register their financial interests, as sitting MPs and peers have to do.

They are however prohibited from lobbying in accordance with Commons rules.

Some of the passholders are Sir Michael Fallon (former defence secretary, who was deputy chairman of an Oil Company); Michael Dugher (former Labour MP, who is chief executive, Betting and Gaming Council); and Sir Nick Clegg (former deputy prime minister, who heads global affairs for Facebook).

Anti-sleaze campaigners warned the cards given to ex-parliamentarians ‘needlessly place temptation in their way’.

Sir Lindsay, Tory chair of the Commons administration panel and Sir Charles Walker announced last night a review of passes.

Sir Alistair Graham, pictured, former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said there was no way to know whether ex-MPs were using the passes for lobbying - he said: 'I am totally opposed to these passes'

Sir Alistair Graham is pictured. Former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, he stated that it was impossible to tell whether former MPs used the passes to lobby – and he added: “I completely oppose these passes.”

The Speaker said: ‘If you’re a lobbyist, I don’t think it is right [you] should have a pass to this House.’

Ex-chairman of the committee standards in public life was Sir Alistair Graham. He said it wasn’t possible to tell if former MPs had used passes for lobbying.

He said: ‘I am totally opposed to these passes.

Once you have left Parliament – whether as a minister or an MP – that should be that and you not have any special privileges of access because it does encourage lobbying.’

One of his close friends says that Mr Paterson does not intend to apply for Commons passes.

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