MPs have supported measures to update their own rulebook, but attempts to hold ministers to the same level of transparency has been rejected.
The Commons backed recommendations from the Committee on Standards aimed at strengthening the MPs’ code of conduct. But in a free vote, MPs voted with the Government to oppose measures that would see ministers asked to register with parliamentary authorities any third-party hospitality worth more than £300 within 28 days, the same as for any other MP.
The Commons voted 239 to 135, a majority of 104, not to back an amendment that would have ensured the change, but Commons leader Penny Mordaunt promised the Government would work ensure “more parity” between how MPs and ministers were required to declare their interests.
Chris Bryant, the Labour chairman of the Committee on Standards, had urged MPs to back his amendment, telling the Commons: “All MPs should be treated equally under the rules, just as every member of our society should be treated equally under the law.” He said: “I start from three basic principles. First of all, ministers in the House of Commons owe their position to their membership of the House and are answerable to it. Secondly, all MPs should be treated equally under the rules.
“Thirdly, the public has the right to know as close to real time as possible of any financial interest that might reasonably be thought to influence an MP’s speech, actions, decisions, or votes.” He added: “The Committee, Transparency International, the Institute for Government, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, the 1922 Committee, the Labour frontbench, the SNP’s frontbench, a substantial number of ministers and I think that is manifestly unfair for the ordinary backbench MP, who declares it all within 28 days and can be investigated and sanctioned if they fail to declare it correctly, while the minister’s declaration without details appears months later and cannot be investigated.
“It is not uncommon for a group of MPs, some of whom are ministers and some of whom are not, to go to the same event, which might cost more than £300, the backbench MPs all declare it, the Daily Mail writes a story about it, the ministers’ attendance is recorded nine months later and nobody notices. This seems somewhat unfair to me.”
Commons Leader Ms Mordaunt said Tory MPs were not expected to back the Government’s plans and could make up “their own minds” on how to update the Commons rulebook. “This is a free vote. All members will have heard the arguments, listened, and they will be voting and deciding what the best thing they think is to do,” she said.
But Ms Mordaunt warned Mr Bryant’s proposals would lead to “dual reporting”, adding: “If an MP is in breach they may face two possibly concurrent investigations. One on the ministerial route and one by this House.”
She acknowledged there needed to be “more parity between MPs and ministerial reporting”, and set out changes planned by the Government which would lead to ministers interests being published monthly, and possibly through the same system as MPs interests. Ms Mordaunt said Whitehall would initially commit to “publish data within 90 days of the end of each quarterly reporting period”, before moving to monthly reporting.
She added that the Cabinet Office “will also consider the alignment of ministerial concerns with the House’s system”, finishing: “I believe it is reasonable to have concluded that work by the start of summer, so my plan is about three months adrift from the committee’s plan.” The Commons leader also spoke against the Standards Committee’s plans for bespoke descriptions of how the seven principles of public life should apply to MPs, telling the Commons this would undermine their “universality”.
MPs rejected this amendment 241 to 135, majority 106. Senior Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin was among six Tories who supported the amendment.
Sir Bernard, a member of the standards committee, told the Commons: “These descriptors are completely innocuous. They are designed to help members. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Government has decided to object to them.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
Find recommendations for eating out, attractions and events near you here on our sister website 2Chill
Find recommendations for dog owners and more doggy stories on our sister site Teamdogs
