Thread: TORY MP suspended after complaint by ex-Ukipper

Tory MP Derek Conway faces a 10-day suspension from the Commons after its standards watchdog said he paid his son too much from parliamentary allowances.

Mr Conway paid Freddie to work part time for him as a researcher while he was studying at Newcastle University.

Standards and Privileges Committee MPs said there was "no record" of what work he had done and said the £1,000-plus a month he was paid was too high.

In response Mr Conway apologised for "my administrative shortcomings".

Mr Conway said his son worked about 17 hours a week for him and he did not infringe the staffing allowance rules.

MPs are given allowances to run their office and pay their staff and there are no rules to stop wives, husbands, sons, daughters and other family members working for them.

'No records'

But in its critical report, the committee ordered Mr Conway to repay "the overpaid bonus sums" of about £13,000 and pension contributions received by his son.

The committee's MPs found that Freddie Conway was paid at a full-time equivalent rate of £25,970 per year throughout his employment.

However, "no records appear to exist of either actual work that FC did for his father, or of the work he was required to undertake", the MPs said.

"We are astonished that there appears to be no evidence, independent or otherwise, of any aspect of FC's work for his father."

The committee said Freddie Conway, who they refer to as FC, seemed to "have been all but invisible during the period of his employment".

For the majority of that time he was based at Newcastle University where he was engaged in a full time degree course.

'Improper use' of allowances

"He had little or no contact with his father's office, either in the House or in the constituency," the MPs said.

"No record of the work he is supposed to have carried out, or the hours kept. The only evidence available to us of work carried out was that provided by FC and his family."

The MPs said this arrangement was "at the least an improper use of parliamentary allowances" and "at worst, a serious diversion of public funds".

"Our view is that the reality may well be somewhere between the two," they said.

"Taking together our assessments of the salary level paid to FC and the number of hours for which he was remunerated, we are of the view that Mr Conway misused the staffing allowance.

"He should have exercised his judgement more carefully, particularly as a family member was involved, as he could be seen as having a clear personal motivation for paying his son over-generously.

"He also seemed to be oblivious to the broader reputational risks to the House of any perception of personal benefit to his family."

Mr Conway, MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup since 2001, said he accepted the committee's criticisms "fully" and had "apologised for my administrative short-comings".

He said he would make a "full personal apology to the House at the appropriate time".

Ex-policeman's complaint

However, in mitigation, he said the parliamentary commissioner for standards had "accepted there was a need for the tasks I had set my son, that he was qualified to undertake them and he did indeed to so".

He said he had paid his son 6% above the mid-point of the lowest pay scales available to MPs for their staff, which was "well below the upper level".

"However, I accept that what is retrospectively considered an 'appropriate sum' was a matter for the committee and I shall comply fully with their requirements," he said.

The committee said there was "conclusive evidence" that Mr Conway authorised bonus payments to his son "that went way beyond the permitted ceiling throughout the period of FC's employment".

"In support of our conclusions, we note that all bonuses for staff authorised by Mr Conway in the previous three years were within the permitted level."

The complaint against Mr Conway was brought by Michael Barnbrook, a retired policeman who stood against him as a candidate for the UK Independence Party, and is now a member of the British National Party.

He told the BBC: "I don't get any personal joy from it. He's my local MP - he's there to work on my behalf. It's my money he's working with and he should be using it properly.

"If he isn't and he's been suspended, or the recommendation is he's suspended, so be it."

BBC NEWS | Politics | Tory MP Conway faces suspension

Hmm. Old Bexley and Sidcup. I belive the previous incumbent had contempt for parliament, too... Although funnily enough he won "Parliamentarian of the year" shortly before he died, for helping us get saddled with Speaker Martin...

I remember Derek Conway from the Young Conservatives and a proper little stuffed shirt he was too.

One year he stood as National YC Vice-Chairman. The hustings were held at the annual conference after midnight while the ball was still going on and most of the audience were very well-oiled. One loudmouth was shouting 'You lot are ******* useless!'

Conway got a lot of the flak. He was very quiet and pale and, weirdly, seemed to have developed a pronounced 'list'. Sadly, he didn't sink without trace.

Nowadays he is best known as David Davis's gofer/dirty tricks artist. If I were Davis I'd be looking for a replacement.

Fantastic! Conway is in more trouble. Seem we ended up paying his other son as well.

All this nonsense about Hain and Co concerns mere technicalities. If some creep wanted to give a a fortune of his own money to Hain and the other guy so what.

The Tory Conway has stolen my money. I'd like to see him behind bars and a full investigation of all the other thieving Tory crooks all the way up to Skidmark himself.

Sod Labour. They could be the men from Mars for all I care. I know these Tories and they are the real traitorous thieving immoral scum.

Originally Posted by Populist Lee

>> Michael Barnbrook <<

Any relation to Richard Barnbrook?

He is a BNP member now though.

Originally Posted by rjt

BBC NEWS | Politics | Tory whip withdrawn from Conway

Mr Cameron has withdrawn the whip from Conway.

Skidmark's running scared. He's decided Conway is guilty until proven innocent.

That man would sell his mother's skin for a few votes.