Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
How can this be allowed to go on???
we need to regain the faith of politicians sadly the public has very poor opinions of politicians, this type of case does
little to get the people on side
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Patrick Mercer lobbying scandal grows as peers are snared
Nick Clegg will push David Cameron to deliver on promise for reform
More politicians were drawn into the Patrick Mercer lobbying affair last night as pressure grew
on the Prime Minister to impose new controls over the lobbying industry and curb the greed
of parliamentarians.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, is expected to demand the Government honours its
commitment to establish an official register of lobbyists, in the wake of allegations that Mr Mercer,
a Tory MP, lobbied on behalf of Fiji after being paid thousands of pounds by undercover reporters.
The demand comes as it was revealed that a second newspaper sting had resulted in two members
of the Lords reporting themselves to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner after potentially
compromising meetings with journalists posing as lobbyists.
The revelations will fuel public anger at the apparent willingness of politicians to accept lucrative
contracts from outside sources to influence issues of public interest without clearly declaring their
interests nearly two decades after the "cash for questions" scandal.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
# 2801.....Courtesy Independent............
Courtesy Guardian............
Patrick Mercer could face police questions under Bribery Act
Target of 'sting' operation may have to leave office if police decide to launch investigation
Patrick Mercer signs a contract with the fake lobbying company set up by BBC Panorama.
Scotland Yard could launch an investigation into potential breaches of the 2010 Bribery Act
by Tory MP Patrick Mercer. The Observer understands that at least one MP is preparing a
complaint that could spark a Met probe into whether Mercer has broken the law, amid allegations
that he tabled parliamentary questions on behalf of a lobbying firm paying him thousands of pounds.
The revelation raises the prospect that Mercer could be subjected to a criminal investigation, the
first into an MP since the act was introduced. Those found guilty under the act can be subject to
prison sentences running up to 10 years if the case goes to a full trial.
A potential defence against any charge could be parliamentary privilege - the right of MPs to ask
questions without fear of being subject to legal action. However, if police were to launch an inquiry
, it would raise questions about whether Mercer could remain in office until the next election. He
has said he plans to stand down in 2015 and has already resigned the whip to "save my party
embarrassment" and referred himself to the parliamentary commissioner for standards
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
ourtesy The Telegraph.....................
House of Lords drawn into lobbying scandal
A member of the House of Lords has become the latest senior politician to be embroiled in the growing
Parliamentary lobbying scandal.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
courtesy The Times.................
Cash for access: Lords exposed
'Make that £12,000 a month and I think we've got a deal'
Lord Cunningham asked for a fee of £144,000 a year to provide a personal lobbying service
PEERS have been caught offering to ask parliamentary questions, lobby ministers and host events
on the House of Lords terrace for cash by The Sunday Times.
Three were secretly filmed by reporters revealing their willingness to flout rules banning them
from using their power and influence in parliament for paying clients.
Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Laird offered to become paid
advocates for a firm pushing for new laws to benefit its business. They also said they could set up an all-party
parliamentary group as a lobbying vehicle.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i thought this lobbying business was a thing of the past, apparently not.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
never went away howard
just a few get there fingers burnt
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
It is rife.....it is big business......it is behind closed doors......in parliamentary terms it is not seen to be innocent........
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
It's another world they live in
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Lord Feldman faces new row over corporation tax
Conservative chairman in row over news his company Jayroma made large donations to party
but paid no corporation tax
Lord Feldman faces claims that his company Jayroma made large donations to the Tory party
despite paying no corporation tax, though this was completely legal. Photograph: Steve Back/Rex Features
The Tory party chairman Lord Feldman faces fresh scrutiny after it has emerged that his company has
given tens of thousands of pounds to the Conservatives in the last two years while at the same time paying
no corporation tax.
Feldman was drawn into controversy last month when he was forced to deny calling grassroots
Tory activists "swivel-eyed loons".
Accounts for the clothing company Jayroma, of which Feldman is controlling party, show that it made profits
of £545,383 last year and £320,343 the year before. In neither year did it pay corporation tax.
However, it has continued to be a generous supporter of the Tory party. Jayroma's accounts show that it
donated £8,690 to the Tories last year and £13,000 in 2011. Jayroma was legitimately exempted from paying
corporation tax over the last two years because it made a loss of £1.7m in 2010, due in part to costs associated
with the closure of a factory and redundancy payments to staff.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
I'm sure BarryW and others will be chuckling at those greedy Labour Peers and their snouts in the trough.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
with peers it is not quite so bad as they don't represent anybody, m.p's should be working for the interests of their constituents not lobbyists.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Disagree Howard, they are the lawmakers, the upper house.
Well I partly disagree because as you say MPs should be working in their constituency. Our bloke was very visible for a while but he soon got bored
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
hang on david there where only two [2] labour ones,the other was a unionist who has handed his notice in.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
So whats your point Brian?
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
they where not all labour.where they.
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
I never said they were Brian.
Politicians are all the same to me, I'm just waiting for the labour triballists, who've been all over this thread for ages, to comment.
Your response confirms my thoughts BRIAN
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
It is a cross party problem with the tories in pole position by a few lengths..........
Guest 714- Registered: 14 Apr 2011
- Posts: 2,594
Is it correct Reg? In the past I would have agreed but I think Brian and Keith's mob are as bad if not worse these days.
They need sending to jail
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
It would appear that`contamination`is happening over the last few years probably due to the media coverage
and MP`s being a product of their environment......Westminster Village.....but the tories are way out in front.....
I agree with your last sentence ......