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Gordon Brown's “cobbled together” law on MPs' expenses risks damaging Parliament, peers warned today.
In unusually strong criticism, the Lords committee on the constitution accused the Prime Minister of rushing the law “simply to see something done”.
Opposing the fast-tracking of the Parliamentary Standards Bill, the peers also condemned the Mr Brown's use of YouTube to unveil reforms as “constitutionally unorthodox”.
They warned his proposals — which include an authority to oversee allowances and up to a year in jail for MPs caught fiddling expenses — now threatened a conflict between Parliament and the courts.
“Rushing the bill through Parliament is unacceptable,” said the committee's Tory chairman Lord Goodlad.
“If the aim of the Bill is to restore public confidence in Parliament... it seems odd to do that with a Bill that has not undergone any sort of consultation.”
The committee's criticism follows individuals including:
Parliamentary commissioner for standards John Lyon who has voiced concerns over the independence of the new allowances watchdog who would investigate complaints.
Sir Philip Mawer, the Prime Minister's own independent adviser on the ministerial code, who has warned the arrangements could cost more.
Dr Malcolm Jack, the clerk of the House, believes the Bill raises issues about the relationship between MPs and the courts.
Parliament's joint committee on human rights said the Bill may prevent the right to a fair hearing for MPs.
The Bill cleared the Commons in three days last week, and the Prime Minister hopes it will go through the Lords and become law before recess on 21 July.
Reader views (2)
What do they expect - the goverment are too busy filling in expense claims or ”redacting” old ones to worry about spending quality time on trivial matters such as legislation.
- Paul , Hereford, Hereford
It is patently obvious that Gormless Brown is NOT fit for purpose.
Of course, the likes of Brown, Jackboot Straw, Milibanana and Meddlesum all believe they are running a jackboot autocracy and they can rush whatever Bills they like through to the Statute Book, without proper consultation or scrutiny.
Roll on democracy.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
