Local Labour MPs blocked 2006 lobby reforms

12.00.00am GMT Wed 24th Mar 2010

Minister for the East Midlands, Phil Hope, and local Labour MPs blocked lobby reforms in October 2006, while Northampton North MP, Sally Keeble, sat on her hands.

Monday night's 'Dispatches' programme contained a slew of allegations against MPs in the East Midlands, with former Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon (Lab, Ashfield), and ex-Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt (Lab, Leicester West), both fingered in the Sunday Times-Channel 4 sting.

Research uncovered since by Cllr Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North, has revealed that, following a 2006 vote to tighten up lobbying rules, local Labour MPs, including Minister for the East Midlands, Phil Hope, voted for 'no change'.

East Midlands MPs in the 'no' camp included Labour's three Nottingham MPs and Ashfield MP, Geoff Hoon. Conspicuous by her absence, meanwhile, was Labour MP for Northampton North, Sally Keeble.

Commenting on the findings, Cllr Simpson, said:

"Northamptonians have been badly let down by their MPs in the past. In that sense, the 2006 vote to clean up lobbying was to be expected.

"Ms. Keeble should now explain why she stayed away and account for her 284 Labour colleagues who voted to keep the revolving door between Parliament and the private sector.

"What we now need is real reform of Parliament, including an electoral system that reflects people's votes, a legal right to sack corrupt MPs and an end to the unelected, expense-fuelled House of Lords.

"Parliamentary reform is not often top of people's concerns at the ballot box. But I hope this time Northamptonians will think long and hard about these issues when they come to cast their votes."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Cllr Andrew Simpson is Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North. A Borough Councillor since 1995, Andrew stood for the constituency in 2005, gaining a 7% swing (3,000 votes) from Labour. Andrew needs a further 6% swing to take the seat on May 6.

2. Details of the vote can be found by clicking on to Public Whip:

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2006-10-18&number=314&display