ANNEX A
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from Mr John C Jones
I am writing to draw some issues of concern to your
attention regarding Ken Livingstone MP for Brent East. I read
this information in Hugh Muir's column in the Evening Standard
on 1st December 1999. I am writing now as it appears that no one
has yet referred the matter to you. If the story reported is true,
I am concerned that Mr Livingstone may not have acted in the way
expected of an MP.
Mr Livingstone is a client of 'Speakers for Business'
a company which hires people for events and after dinner speeches.
I understand that Mr Livingstone has been receiving regular payments
of up to £1,600 for each event and that he has not declared
any of this income which would appear to come from his status
as a Member of Parliament on the Register of Members Interests.
I know that there are quite strict rules governing
the involvement of MPs in lobbying firms and it seems to me that
this is little different.
I am also concerned that Mr Livingstone has not declared
either the source or proportion of income which he has received
as a result of being an MP and which has been paid to his company,
LocalAction Ltd. I wonder if you would clarify your views on these
matters and consider whether they represent the standard required
of Members of Parliament. I look forward to hearing from you as
soon as possible.
19 December 1999
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