The Guardian has caught up with the dosh for dinners story we pointed out at the beginning of the month, and it’s proved to be a lot bigger than expected:
A dossier seen by the Guardian shows that Mr Cameron and his predecessor, Michael Howard, are among the MPs facing complaints. They include George Osborne, shadow chancellor; Alan Duncan, shadow trade and industry industry; Grant Shapps, the party vice-chairman in charge of campaigning; Oliver Letwin, policy chief, and a long list of backbenchers.
A spokesman for David Cameron said that ‘patrons’ clubs had existed for a long time and that dining rooms could be used for political purposes’. That sounds like a familiar defence…I wonder where I’ve heard it before. Cameron really is getting good at aping Tony…
On the second page of the Guardian story, they kindly reference the same ‘Westminster Club’ belonging to Mark Prisk that we linked to. Apparently ‘Mr Prisk did not return calls from the Guardian’. Well it is Christmas, and even Tory MPs deserve a bit of a break….
So where does it go from here? Well, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer will be looking in to the matter, but - like Labour’s loans - don’t expect anyone important to take the fall for it. The outcome will probably be that the rules get ‘clarified’ (ie. the MPs get told not to break them again) and then it will get forgotten. Sad, but true.
redtamarin[at]gmail.com
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You never answered my question about Janet Anderson MP using those self-same facilities to fundraise for a FOREIGN political party…
Cllr Iain Lindley said this on December 27th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Gosh. Do you think this is another story inspired by someone keen to see the back of a political party’s leader (whose sponsorship of Government facilities for party political purposes is bound to come out sooner or later)?
Cllr Graham Smith said this on December 28th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Iain - whilst I’d not claim to be an expert on the rules, I have read through the Members’ Handbook, the Code of Conduct/Guide to the rules relating to the Conduct of Members and some of the Guidance Notes produced by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
My understanding is that the use of Parliamentary facilities for purposes by which the MP himself/herself will gain financial (or other direct benefit) is against the rules. Thus holding a dinner to raise funds for your party political campaign is against the rules, but a dinner hosted for a charity would probably be acceptable.
In the case of Janet Anderson, I think you’d have to prove that she was getting some clear benefit for hosting an event for the Democratic Party before you can accuse her of a misdeed. It may not be what you want your representative spending their time doing, but it’s probably not against the rules.
Red Tamarin said this on December 28th, 2006 at 11:39 am
you’re a bit of a frother
oops said this on December 28th, 2006 at 11:39 am
One of the points is that it isn’t just sitting MPs. It appears Conservative Associations are using dining clubs at the Commons to fundraise to unseat sitting MPs - they simply get a nearby MP to sign that it is in their name (see Basildon & East Thurrock Tories - Bob Spink MP).
Kevin Flack said this on December 28th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Happy New Year Recess Monkey…all a bit on a Rehman Chishti fromt….your informants have dried up….
Martinez said this on December 29th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Ho hum not really in the same league as selling off peerages (criminal charges to be brought very soon) or trousering yet another £60k freebie holiday from an individual currently lobbying for a change in the law thereby creating a clear conflict of interest.Rather clutching at straws with this one I’m afraid Tamarin.
matt said this on December 30th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
oops - that I am. Given the tendency of people in politics to try to pick open the tiniest of holes in arguments it makes sense to cover everything in a fair amount of detail, preferably filled with impenetrable jargon
matt - could you come up with some new insults please? Vocal minorities are tiresome enough without being repetitive.
Red Tamarin said this on January 2nd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Tamarin, those are facts not insults, there is a difference you know although I do understand that in NuLab world that may have become rather confused. Oh and what minority exactly is it you’re referring to please and how do you know that I belong to it?
matt said this on January 3rd, 2007 at 12:18 am
Don’t you think the whole “NuLab” thing is, well, a little silly?
Steve said this on January 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
matt - There are other things I’d rather be doing than argue, but in the hope of clarification so that I need no longer do so, here goes:
1. Saying that I am ‘clutching at straws’ is not a fact. It is an opinion of yours - one you are perfectly entitled to. Using it as an insult is also fine. I was just requesting some variation in them - it being spice of life and all that.
2. You are a part of a vocal minority who (for reasons I don’t feel I quite comprehend) dislike the content of the site, criticise or complain regularly in the comments, but continue to visit nonetheless. The silent majority read, hopefully enjoy, and leave. That IS a fact.
You can continue to criticise as much as you please, obviously with the standard provisos on behaviour that would be observed on any site, just don’t expect to win a battle for hearts and minds.
Red Tamarin said this on January 3rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Tamarin it is not actually my opinion that I don’t like the content of this site, seemingly it is yours. Normally I enjoy most of it a lot, although it did used to be better when Alex didn’t havwe the distraction of Labourhome.com to run as well. But surely you can understand the pleasure involved in general Monkey baiting since it is much the same as that gained from Christi baiting or Mark Clarke baiting etc etc.
I do find it a touch disturbing though that you seem to feel that the kind of readers you desire are those who read and then leave without commenting.The blogosphere is supposed to be about the robust exchange of views and RM has always been at the forefront of that all round good thing.
Perhaps you just don’t like my comments because they can sometimes strike the nail on the head and that hurts, if you think I’m difficult on here then you should see what I post elsewhere, especially Conservativehome.I’m just a one man awkward squad really.
As to hearts and minds the old saying still has truth to it:
If at 20 you’re not a socialist then you haven’t got a heart
If at 40 you’re not a conservative then you haven’t got a head
Happy New Year to You Simians!
matt said this on January 4th, 2007 at 1:01 am