Up to 80 parliamentary passes could be revoked as lobbying scandal rumbles on
On-going fallout from the lobbying scandal which broke over parliament at the weekend has seen the speaker of the House of Commons threaten to revoke 80 parliamentary passes.
The prized passes grant the holder privileged access to the seat of government and have been made available for money by a number of sitting MPs – raising both ethical and security concerns for the government.
This underbelly of parliamentary life was exposed last week when The Telegraph filmed Patrick Mercer MP stating his readiness to arrange passes for undercover journalists.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said that the government will push forward new legislation to curb the influence of lobbyists through creation of a statutory register for those paid to lobby as ‘third parties’.
Meanwhile one legal expert, James Carlton of Fox Williams LLP, has warned that Mercer’s actions could put him in breach of the Bribery Act. He told the Telegraph: “The indications are that Patrick Mercer and others will now face a police investigation into both bribery and misconduct in public office."
The Speaker is expected to make a statement on the brewing scandal later today.