MPs Children May Be Banned From Office

Although it seems unlikely that anyone will be sacked from existing employment - given the protection of employment legislation - local MPs look likely to join their mainland colleagues and be banned from employing their children at taxpayers' expense.

New proposals outlined yesterday by Harriet Harman, the Leader of the House of Commons are a bid to address public concerns raised about the abuse of research jobs and expenses.

Although the initial spark happened when Derek Conway, the Tory MP was found to have channelled tens of thousands of pounds into the bank accounts of his two sons for work they apparently did while they were at universities outside London, the proposals will have a considerable impact in Northern Ireland.

NI First Minister Peter Robinson (pictured) and his wife, fellow MP, Iris Robinson, both staff their offices with a daughter, two sons and an in-law, all paid for by the taxpayer, while ex-First Minister Dr Ian Paisley also employed his son Ian Jnr while he was a Stormont Junior Minister.

They are not alone, and in all, there are some 22 MPs across the UK who likely to be hit if the proposals are adopted - as expected - this October.

However, spouses and partners of MPs would still be able to be employed - if the recommendations in a consultation paper are accepted.

The move is seen as a way of addressing "abuses (which) have undermined faith in the House of Commons".

"Recent instances of MPs employing their children have raised public concern and dented public confidence," the paper concluded.

Ms Harman's proposals could form part of a package of reforms implemented by the Prime Minister as he tries to fight back after a summer of Labour infighting.

Ms Harman also said yesterday that the Government was consulting MPs about the need for receipts to be produced for all claims for reimbursement from the public purse, in an attempt to clean up the image of Parliament.

Currently, MPs do not have to provide receipts for transactions of £250 and under.

"MPs... must have the resources to do their work effectively, and they must command the confidence, respect and trust of the public," Ms Harman said. "We need arrangements which achieve both these aims."

(BMcC)