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Wives of MPs are set to go to the High Court in their battle against a ban on being employed by their husbands.
They have been told they could succeed in a judicial review of any decision to bar MPs from employing relatives.
Many MPs' wives are furious that the standards watchdog recommended banning the practice under reforms of Commons expenses announced yesterday. About 20 spouses met a lawyer from the Unite union last night who said that sacking them would be illegal.
The ban proposed by Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, would have to be implemented by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
Dan Whittle, chairman of the Unite parliamentary branch, said: “The advice was given that there could be the potential for a judicial review of any decision by IPSA to put into practice Sir Chris Kelly's proposal on the basis of Section 3 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.”
The union is also examining whether spouses could still work for MPs but be officially on the books of a special “employment vehicle”. A “wife swap” system has also been discussed.
Sir Christopher has rejected claims that there will need to be “bedroom police” to enforce a ban as some MPs end up marrying staff members.
But Mr Whittle said: “If Sir Chris Kelly gets his way this will be the only workplace in the country where Valentine's Day is banned because the cards could be used as incriminating evidence.” Tory MP Roger Gale's wife Suzy is leading a cross-party group of MPs' wives and husbands who are urging the chairman of IPSA, Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, to “reconsider” the proposed ban.
Meanwhile, Sir Christopher who has backed a pay review was said to be incredulous at the suggestion from some MPs that they should get a rise of £20-£30,000. “Nothing I have said should be seen as encouragement for that,” he told The Telegraph.
His proposed reforms include phasing out mortgage interest payments, halving the London supplement and scrapping the housing allowance for MPs who can commute to the Commons within an hour. Commons Speaker John Bercow has written to MPs warning that any attempt at “procrastination” in implementing the reforms would be viewed unkindly by voters.
Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron accepted the proposed shake-up “in full”, however some MPs hope they will be watered down by IPSA.
Reader views (10)
There is another side to this. MPs wives as administrators are in all probability more economical than engaging an outsider. One can't see an outsider working '24 hours'. This latter thought also raises of an outsider and employer getting too close. Suppose provides the media with gossip material!
Also security (information) is something else. Better in the long run "to keep it in the family" rather than have too many heads and mouths to threaten serious matters.
- Tony, Herts
Not a problem at all.. By the time of the next election, all their dear hubbies will be out of Parliament anyway. So best these silly ladies get a proper job asap!
- Haskey, London SE1
I hope that this is done in their own time - if they need to attend court and not work time. Also with their own money and not tax payer money. Thought not.
- Jk, London
This takes the biscuit...here we are trying to clean up the system & they are fighting it instead of trying to do the right thing....we need to simply get rid of all these greedy people...all of them...husbands, wives, partners, mistresses.. the whole lot.
- Frank, UK
Where MPs need administrative assistance, the posts must be advertised and the most suitable candidate selected regardless of political affiliation.
- Mlowe, london
Very silly of them. They will only make themeselves look as mercenary as their spouses.
- Crash Murphy, Broxbourne
By the time IPSA gets going the actual changes to MPs expenses will bare little or no resemblance to Kelly`s proposals. This is only just the start. The Commons and Lords are stuffed with lawyers who undoubtedly will be giving their advice, on all aspects of the Kelly report, for free. Led no doubt by Harriet Harman QC MP ex Brent Law Centre, ex Legal Officer to Liberty where she took on the first cases for women under the then new Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination Acts. Internal politics, don`t you just love it. Poor old Gordon - I don`t think he will make it to May somehow!
- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston
As an MP is elected for a maximum of 5 years how do the wives of these leeches claim to have contracts of employment longer than the period of a Parliament.No doubt they feel that the world owes them a living having seen how easily their husbands have claimed on expenses.
- Peter Dickins, audierne
Cant blame them, it's like asking turkeys to vote on xmas.
- Shallotman, Basildon
Now we have the parasite wives of useless MP's going to the High Court.
On full expenses, of course.
- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
