Conway kicked out for 10 days

Feb 1 2008 by William Green, The Journal

DISGRACED MP Derek Conway was yesterday suspended from the Commons for 10 days and ordered to repay up to £13,161 improperly paid to his son Freddie.

MPs endorsed the recommendations of the Standards and Privileges Committee without a vote, after a 35-minute debate.

Mr Conway, a former Tyne and Wear councillor, was not in the Commons chamber to hear discussion of his case that came after he announced that he will step down as Old Bexley and Sidcup Conservative MP at the next election.

Former Labour minister Frank Field questioned whether the punishment was adequate and compared what could happen to a Parliamentary staff member.

He said: “If this example of what I would see as embezzlement had occurred in the refreshment department on this scale, we would have expected that person to leave the employment of this establishment on that day.

“I believe we should treat ourselves in a similar manner.”

Theresa May, Shadow Tory Leader of the House, endorsed the committee’s recommendations and highlighted how Mr Conway seemed to be “oblivious to the broader reputational risks to the House [of Commons] of any perception of personal benefit to his family.

“All members of this House should remember that in using public funds we have a duty to ensure we use those funds properly and within the rules set,” said the Maidenhead MP.

Committee chairman Sir George Young said it was right to bring the matter to the Commons rather than the police, but stressed anyone could lodge a complaint with officers because MPs did not have a “general immunity” from the law.

He said Freddie Conway’s pay was “unjustifiably” high but stressed that neither his committee nor the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards asserted he did no work for his father.

Sir George added: “A difficulty for the commissioner and indeed for my committee in this case has been the virtually complete absence of evidence of the work that Freddie Conway actually performed, not least when he was at university in Newcastle.”

He also confirmed complaints have now been made to the Commissioner about the employment of Mr Conway’s elder son, Henry.

Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes called for a monthly £50 limit on expenses without receipts, the National Audit Office to carry out spot-checks on MPs and for just one family member to be employed at the going rate.

Labour backbencher David Winnick, who represents Walsall North, said there was insufficient transparency and questioned why MPs could not be audited and the names of family members working as staff added to Commons register of interests.

Mr Conway’s suspension came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown backed calls from Justice Secretary Jack Straw that there should be more openness with the public about where the allowances are spent, but stopped short of backing specific proposals to name all MPs’ staff.

Mr Conway now faces a possible police inquiry and has come under renewed fire after it emerged one of his son’s friends, Michel Pratte, had also been on his payroll.

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