Westminster bans jailed former MPs

Published on 15/06/2011 14:39

FORMER MPs sentenced to a year or more in jail are to be stripped of their parliamentary passes.

The rule change follows the jailing of MPs - including former Livingston MP Jim Devine - for abusing the Westminster expenses system.

It was revealed in a report by the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee, which confirmed that jailed former MPs Devine, David Chaytor, Eric Illsley, and Elliot Morley were being stripped of passes allowing them to use facilities at Westminster. The committee also confirmed the Standards Commissioner has closed inquiries into the four former MPs following conviction.

It said: "In cases where a former Member has both been imprisoned and is no longer entitled to an ex-Member's photo-pass, it is unlikely this committee will have any further sanction to impose."