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Review of bribes Act ordered by No 10
Nicholas Cecil, Joe Murphy and Craig Woodhouse13 Jan 2011
Downing Street has ordered a review of new anti-bribery laws amid fears they could damage economic growth.
The Standard has highlighted concerns by business chiefs who will have to introduce burdensome anti-corruption systems to protect themselves against bribe charges.
ES Comment: Ministers must think again on bribery law
Just weeks before the Bribery Act is due to come into force, David Cameron's office stepped in after warnings by business chiefs that bosses could end up in court after unwittingly committing an offence.
The legislation, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, may now go before a "star chamber" chaired by Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Vince Cable.
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has been urged to intervene to stop British firms being hit by the anti-corruption regime, which experts say will be the toughest in the world.
Today lawyers for Formula 1's Team Lotus warned that sponsors could walk away because of fears of unfairly being caught by the act. It creates two general offences of bribery, a specific offence of bribery of a foreign public official and an offence of failure by a company to prevent a bribe being paid for or on its behalf.
A No10 spokesman said: "It is being looked at in the context of the growth review [into burdens on businesses]."
Reader views (5)
this isn't about politicians or bankers its about doing business in foreign countries where corruption is endemic - so thats most of africa, all of Arabia and the former USSR and a fair amount of South America. Commissions, baksheesh, retainers - call it what you will if its not paid no contracts are signed.
- squiz, islington, 13/01/2011 17:57
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Could we have the names of those lobbyists who seem to think that a law against bribery threatens their business? What sort of businesses are they running? Are they afraid of losing some kind of existing competitive advantage? What might that be?
- mdj, london uk, 13/01/2011 17:14
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the country would be in a better economic, social and political condition if ALL the politicians were put behind bars
- J. L. Gammage, Hereford, England, 13/01/2011 17:10
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I think you will find that, buried deep in the verbiage, our delighful M.P.s have exempted themselves from any charges under this act. Any politician care to deny it?
- MiguelM, Old Isleworth, 13/01/2011 17:04
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I suppose the PM might fall foul of such a law with the bankers being greased up with bonuses
- bazza, London, 13/01/2011 14:45
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