MP resigns as Tory over lobbying claim – it must be time to sign the anti-corruption e-petition

Out of the Party: But would Patrick Mercer have resigned if a major TV documentary wasn't about to reveal allegations against him?

Out of the Party: But would Patrick Mercer have resigned if a major TV documentary wasn’t about to reveal allegations against him?

Tory MP Patrick Mercer has resigned from the Parliamentary Conservative Party to “save … embarrassment” over a BBC Panorama programme alleging he had broken lobbying rules.

Mercer, MP for Newark, will remain as an Independent but will not stand for re-election in 2015.

The coalition government is committed to setting up a statutory register of lobbyists – companies who influence government policy, often by paying current and former MPs for advice and guidance. But, you know, it’s one of those matters that just doesn’t seem to make it onto the legislative programme – like proper bank regulation and measures to make tax avoidance impossible.

Many of you know that I have a strong opinion about this. That is why I started an e-petition to ban MPs from voting on matters in which they have a financial interest. Lobbying would definitely be affected by such a ban.

The text runs as follows:

We call on HM Government for new legislation to ensure that:

i. No member of Parliament may speak or vote in a debate on legislation which could financially benefit any commercial operation in which they have a financial interest; and

ii. No member of Parliament may speak or vote in a debate on legislation which could financially benefit any commercial operation which has made – or currently makes – donations to themselves personally or their political party.

We believe this is necessary to prevent corruption. It is also in accord with the spirit of political reform supported by the government.

I’m not saying Mr Mercer has been engaging in unacceptable behaviour; we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

But I am saying that, if the ban I propose had been in place, he would have known not to do it.

Please visit the e-petition’s page and sign, if you haven’t already done so – and, please, tell all your friends.

In fact, tell all your enemies as well – it’ll be in their best interests too!

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15 Comments

  1. murray May 31, 2013 at 1:15 pm - Reply

    One snout gone from the trough!

    • Jonathan Wilson May 31, 2013 at 2:35 pm - Reply

      Sadly not… all he’s done is distance himself from the Cons, but still firmly entrenched in the trough till 2015.

      Seriously, changing party or exiting one should be cause for a bi-election not staying put to make sure they get a nice redundancy package and pension… wankers the lot of em.

  2. guy fawkes May 31, 2013 at 1:32 pm - Reply

    So even if the mp is a private landlord of a few properties this would be considered a financial or commercial interest and prevent him from voting ,I hope? The same should apply to councillors or those working in local government who provide local input from which the government form national policies and who can be equally corrupt.

    • Mike Sivier May 31, 2013 at 1:42 pm - Reply

      A landlord wouldn’t be able to vote on anything bringing financial benefit to landlords, no. As far as I’m aware, there is already a prohibition on councillors from discussing anything in which they, their relatives or personal friends have an interest. How well that is policed is beyond my ability to detect.

  3. Workhouse May 31, 2013 at 3:16 pm - Reply

    I bet Mercer is regretting this comment he made in November 2011….

    “In an astonishing tirade against the PM, the MP branded his boss the worst politician in more than a ­century and vowed: “We’ll get rid of him.”

    Former army officer Mr ­Mercer also declared: “He’s a most ­despicable creature without any redeeming features.”

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-patrick-mercer-rants-91303

    I wonder is this also part of the reason, he has been exposed?

  4. guy fawkes May 31, 2013 at 3:43 pm - Reply

    From what has gone on in our council over the years, with councillors voting to close council nursing homes in favour of homes they own etc, there is no policing or accountability.

  5. Editor May 31, 2013 at 3:54 pm - Reply

    Reblogged this on kickingthecat.

    • Montefeltro May 31, 2013 at 6:52 pm - Reply

      Point i of the petition sounds reasonable, but surely point ii (no MP is allowed to have anything to do with legislative proposals which might benefit a company which has donated to their party) is entirely unworkable. For example, if a single corporation donated something to the Conservative party, then all Tory MPs would be forever more debarred from speaking or voting on anything which might financially benefit businesses. That seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to me.

      • Mike Sivier May 31, 2013 at 7:17 pm - Reply

        No – if a single corporation donated something to the Conservative Party, then all Tory MPs would be debarred from speaking or voting on anything which might financially benefit that single corporation.

  6. rainbowwarriorlizzie June 1, 2013 at 10:45 am - Reply
  7. […] of corporations to write government policy or prevent lobbying scandals such as those involving former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, along with Tories Peter Cruddas and Liam […]

  8. […] of corporations to write government policy or prevent lobbying scandals such as those involving former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, along with Tories Peter Cruddas and Liam […]

  9. […] of corporations to write government policy or prevent lobbying scandals such as those involvingformer Tory MP Patrick Mercer, along with Tories Peter Cruddas and Liam […]

  10. […] Tory MP Patrick Mercer has resigned from the Parliamentary Conservative Party to "save … embarrassment" over a BBC Panorama programme alleging he had broken lobbying rules. Mercer, MP for Newark,…  […]

  11. […] of corporations to write government policy or prevent lobbying scandals such as those involving former Tory MP Patrick Mercer, along with Tories Peter Cruddas and Liam […]

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