Although the Kelly Report into MPs expenses was published yesterday some MPs have complained that their £65,000 a year salaries will not be enough to live on.  This is despite the Kelly Report suggesting a crackdown on expenses which the public hoped would bring an end to the MPs gravy train.  The report will reportedly [...]

Posted on November 5th, 2009 by chris
Filed under: Kelly Report, Uncategorized, blog | 1 Comment »

KELLY REPORT CHECK LIST Are the Kelly Report recommendations tough or weak? The Sunlight Centre has broken down the potential reforms into four categories and 30 potential reforms to enable journalists to judge the toughness of the proposals. Score the report. The check list was compiled by Juliet Samuel, the author of Disinfecting Parliament: The [...]

Posted on November 4th, 2009 by Mike Rouse
Filed under: Kelly Report, Uncategorized, blog | No Comments »

Read the Kelly report in full. Click here. Sir Christopher Kelly publishes report today on MPs expenses.  Today. Sunlight Correspondents are currently in Westminster including Juliet Samuel author of the shadow report ‘Disinfecting Parliament’ to measure the success of the Kelly report both with the media, the public and MPs (if anyone is brave enough [...]

Posted on November 4th, 2009 by chris
Filed under: Kelly Report, Uncategorized, blog, frontpage, projects | No Comments »

Jacqui Smith’s appearance on Question Time last night was dominated by expenses.  Much as Nick Griffin’s appearance was dominated the previous week before by a singular issue.  Throughout the programme Ms Smith looked grumpy with the guests and ill at ease with the audience. An audience member asked if ministers embroiled in the expenses scandal [...]

Posted on October 30th, 2009 by chris
Filed under: Jacqui Smith, blog | No Comments »

Former Home Office minister Tony McNulty is ordered to repay almost £14,000 after claiming a second home allowance for his parents’ house.  The Commons standards and privileges committee ruled that Mr McNulty breached Commons rules by making a claim for expenses that were, // “not wholly and exclusively incurred in connection with his parliamentary duties” [...]

Posted on October 29th, 2009 by chris
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Jim Devine the MP who the Sunlight Centre reported to the police for abusing his expenses is considering legal action against the Labour Party after it barred him from standing again as a candidate because of his expense claims.  The Sunlight Centre originally reported Mr Devine to the police over bogus claims he made for [...]

Posted on October 14th, 2009 by chris
Filed under: Jim Devine, Uncategorized, blog | No Comments »

The Sunlight Centre has today called for MPs to comply with the Sir Thomas Legg inquiry into use of the accommodation allowance and pay back money that was wrongfully claimed for the maintenance of second homes. In particular, we have written to Jacqui Smith MP whom, you might remember, we referred to the Paraliamentary Commissioner [...]

Posted on October 12th, 2009 by Mike Rouse
Filed under: frontpage, projects | No Comments »

You can now buy a glossy, bound cover of our Shadow Kelly Report, Disinfecting Parliament for £10. The report gives the most comprehensive overview available of the internal system that generates the expenses rules and gives radical recommendations for the overhaul needed toopen up Parliament to the British people. Buy it on Lulu.

Posted on September 25th, 2009 by Mike Rouse
Filed under: Kelly Report, blog, frontpage | No Comments »

Last night the Sunlight Centre reported Baroness Scotland to the Bar Standards Board.  The Bar Standards Board must now decide whether or not to call Lady Scotland before a disciplinary tribunal. The Sunlight’s complaint was based on the fact that Baroness Scotland is a qualified Barrister and we believe that she has breached the Barrister’s [...]

Posted on September 23rd, 2009 by chris
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++According to Sky News the Attorney General who the Sunlight Centre reported to the UKBA over employing an overstayer last week has been fined £5,000++ The UK Border Agency began an inquiry into Attorney General Baroness Scotland after it emerged she had employed an illegal migrant. Lady Scotland fired 27-year-old Loloahi Tapui, from Tonga, when [...]

Posted on September 22nd, 2009 by chris
Filed under: Uncategorized, projects | No Comments »