Leicester Mercury wins battle to learn facts about ex-MPs' cash payouts
The Leicester Mercury has won a victory which will force the House of Commons to reveal whether former MPs took "golden goodbye" payments worth up to £60,000.
The Mercury has been trying to find out whether former Leicester West MP Patricia Hewitt, who holds a string of high-paid private sector jobs, had taken the grant after she stood down at the last election.
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Former Leicester West MP Patricia Hewitt
On leaving her MP's job at the last election Ms Hewitt was entitled to a £54,000 grant – but she has never revealed if she had taken this up.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Commons authorities were asked to provide a list of MPs who had drawn the grant, paid out of public funds.
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However, the authorities refused – claiming release of the list would breach data protection rules – and the Mercury took its case to the Information Commissioner, who rules in such disputes.
After the watchdog's intervention, the Commons authorities have backed down.
All MPs who drew grants – thought to be 250 of the 255 who left the Commons in May – will be told in the next week or so that their names will be released to the public.
A list will be published in early April.
In a letter to the Mercury a Commons official explained the U-turn occurred because data protection rules that applied when the information was first requested in June last year were no longer relevant.
He said: "In the circumstances as they now apply, we do not consider the information to be exempt."
Under rules in place in May 2010 MPs were entitled to a resettlement grant worth tens of thousands of pounds to "help them adjust" to non-parliamentary life.
The grant is worked out depending on the number of years the MP has served and their final salary.
Critics argued there was no need for the grant particularly where MPs earned significant wages from jobs outside Westminster.
Ms Hewitt has held jobs simultaneously at Eurotunnel, Alliance Boots, BT Group, Barclays Capital and private equity group Cinven.
In February 2010, the parliamentary register of members' interests showed she had declared an income of £59,475 for 140 hours of work for the BT Group.
She had also registered £23,000 paid for 75 hours of work with Boots and £17,250 for 30 hours with Cinven.
Changes made to strengthen fairness and accountability in the system after the expenses scandal have since seen the grant greatly reduced – though the new system came into force only after Ms Hewitt left office.
As she is no longer an MP and does not have to register earnings, it is not known how much she receives from those jobs now.
She was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Comments
by Adrian, Leicester
Monday, February 28 2011, 2:08PM
“Follow the Money...
MP Andrew Lansley / Tory Party received over £700,000 pounds from sponsors Mrs Nash & Mr Nash.
MP Lansley advocates "reform" of NHS - an act to ensure privatisation by stealth - Private Health Company (CARE.UK) awarded £53 million in NHS contracts - CARE.UK Chairman... Mr Nash.
Follow the money”
by Dan, Loughborough
Monday, February 28 2011, 9:27AM
“GT, for many companies you will find the income of senior staff in their company accounts, it is freely available info if you look.”
by dennis, le
Monday, February 28 2011, 7:14AM
“I have submitted a Freedom of Information Act against the council on the breakdown over the last two years of 196000 and 167000 for car loans to employees!!! This is public money and they are given this with no vision of repayment! Even if they repay it who said they can use my money for this!!”
by BT employee, Leics
Sunday, February 27 2011, 3:06PM
“It would take me nearly 4 years to earn what Mrs Hewitt did from BT in 140 hours. People like her make me sick, they are milking the country for all they can get.”
by Oliver, Leicester
Saturday, February 26 2011, 8:18PM
“MPs in general are disgusting more so as many have plenty of money from well paying jobs as it is - Politics for many is just a way to get more power, control people and earn pocket money. I hate how the system is at the moment and it will not improve any at all.
Many are more and more out of touch with the people they claim to represent when all they represent is the instilled bias of their particular class prejudices.”
by Jim, Leicester
Saturday, February 26 2011, 3:53PM
“We should know after all its public money we paid in Taxes and we are all entitled to know”
by G.T., Leicester
Saturday, February 26 2011, 2:52PM
“The last thing I whish to do is for it to appear that I am defending any MPs that have had their feet in the trough, they are a disgrace. However they are only aping some of the grotesque behavior of what they consider to be their peer group in the private sector. ¿Chief Executive Classes¿ in the private sector should also be open to public scrutiny this might expose and curtail their greed their greed after all it is them that set the bench mark. This scrutiny should include all their total income, expenses, remuneration and tax paid by them. They are quick to claim the credit during good periods and state how difficult and responsible their roles are but not so quick to accept responsibility when things go wrong and none seem to end up out of work and homeless despite their failings.
Gtee”
by Tom Watson, Barwell
Saturday, February 26 2011, 1:12PM
“There used to be a time when an MP was proud to represent his constituents, but now it seems a case of what he or she can make out of 'the system' in expenses, directorships and foreign jollies.
£300 an hour for working for Boots, now doubt lobbying some committee or other. Nice work while it lasts, as the electorate are sick to death of noses in the trough while you and I struggle, being squeezed financially every which way.”
by Fred Pittwood, Glenfield
Saturday, February 26 2011, 11:51AM
“You only had to listen to her for two minutes to know that she was in the wrong party. How do ordinary Labour Party Members, who originally selected her as a candidate, not see through these people?”
by Tony (ex pat), Lakeland. Fla
Saturday, February 26 2011, 11:48AM
“Graham (Whetstone)....sorry mate, but after reading the above, apparently they do...”