Toothless Parliamentary standards commissioner launches inquiry into Whittingdale over Amsterdam trip

Last Updated: April 23, 2016By
A source close to John Whittingdale allegedly said he inquired about the trip but was told he did not need to declare it - but This Blog does not acknowledge the existence of unnamed sources so that means nothing to us [Image: Mark Thomas/REX/Shutterstock].

A source close to John Whittingdale allegedly said he inquired about the trip but was told he did not need to declare it – but This Blog does not acknowledge the existence of unnamed sources so that means nothing to us [Image: Mark Thomas/REX/Shutterstock].

This action, by the Tory poodle Kathryn Hudson, is a bit desperate, isn’t it?

An investigation into a trip to the MTV Europe awards in Amsterdam in which John Whittingdale took his dominatrix sex-worker girlfriend of the time?

It’s an attempt to say Parliament is doing something about him, without actually doing anything at all.

Hudson will rule that it is either a minor offence or not an offence at all, and we will be asked to accept that his other… indiscretions… are also minor.

It seems highly unlikely that she would describe it as a serious breach and refer the case to Parliament’s standards committee, which would only give him a metaphorical slap on the wrist in any event – as with Maria Miller a few years ago.

But showing confidential cabinet papers to another girlfriend is a serious breach of Parliamentary rules. That isn’t under investigation.

Taking payment-in-kind in return for speaking against restrictions on the opening of lapdancing clubs is also a serious breach of Parliamentary rules (just ask Jack Straw or Malcolm Rifkind). But that isn’t under investigation either.

The sooner the “Independent” Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is dismissed and her position dissolved – to be replaced by a genuinely independent organisation, capable of handing out its own justice – the better.

Does anybody know how this may be achieved?

The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has been placed under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards after he did not declare a trip to the MTV Europe awards in Amsterdam in 2013 with his then girlfriend, a dominatrix sex worker.

Kathryn Hudson has launched an investigation, her spokeswoman said on Friday, after Labour MP Neil Coyle complained Whittingdale should have declared the trip because of the cost of the flights, hotel bill and entertainment, which were covered by MTV.

They would need to be declared if they had exceeded 1% of his salary, which is the threshold under parliamentary rules.

The standards commissioner can either choose to rule that the allegation is not made out or resolve it informally in cases of “minor or inadvertent” cases. If she considers it a serious breach she must refer the case to parliament’s standards committee which alone has the power to recommend sanctions.

Source: John Whittingdale under parliamentary investigation over MTV awards trip | Politics | The Guardian

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6 Comments

  1. Jon Lisle-Summers April 23, 2016 at 11:01 am - Reply

    Remind me, was it not Norman Lamont who rented his house out to a Miss Whiplash? I remember it may have landed him in lukewarm water…..

  2. Terry Davies April 23, 2016 at 12:29 pm - Reply

    what about s petition forwarded to all MPs to give them pressure and force a debate on Parliamentsry standards and the unsuitability of the current system.

  3. Florence April 23, 2016 at 2:04 pm - Reply

    But it does divert attention from the decision not to investigate Cameron AT ALL over the Panama revelations!

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/21/parliamentary-watchdog-not-investigate-david-cameron-tax-affairs-panama-papers

  4. casalealex April 24, 2016 at 1:57 am - Reply

    The Seven Principles of Public Life have been amended over the years. They are currently (2015) worded as follows:

    • Selflessness – Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

    • Integrity – Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

    • Objectivity – Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

    • Accountability – Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

    • Openness – Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

    • Honesty – Holders of public office should be truthful

    • Leadership – Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

  5. casalealex April 24, 2016 at 2:00 am - Reply

    From the smug look on this guy’s face, he knows nothing will come of this investigation. Watch out for new Honours List – he will be in House of Lords!

  6. mrmarcpc April 25, 2016 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    He should be done the dodgy get and the PSC needs a spine, like the BBC too!

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