Clegg: Expel peers who break the law (North Shropshire Liberal Democrats)

North Shropshire Liberal Democrats <roma.hoseason@btinternet.com>

Clegg: Expel peers who break the law

January 28, 2009 1:03 PM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will call for peers who are convicted of a criminal offence and face a prison sentence to be expelled from Parliament.

In a speech to Unlock Democracy entitled 'A Politics of Trust', Nick Clegg will say:

"The current accusations of wrongdoing that have been made against a number of peers highlight everything that is wrong with our political system. A system that too often operates on the myth that tradition should somehow always be trusted.

"The allegations of accepting payment in return for changing legislation are serious enough. But on top of that the sanctions applied to the peers if they are found guilty are so weak.

"This case exposes the extraordinary protection enjoyed by the political class. One rule for lawmakers and another for everyone else.

"The most the accused peers will have to do if the Lords' investigation finds them guilty is to apologise.

"That is why my colleague Chris Huhne was right to write to the police to establish whether these allegations might carry more serious sanctions under the law.

"That is why I am also now calling on the Government to introduce urgent new legislation to change the rules so that peers found guilty of wrongdoing are expelled from Parliament.

"It is wholly out of step with the public's legitimate demand for transparency in politics that just because someone happens to be in the House of Lords they are exempt from the most basic standards of accountability."