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Lib Dem Deputy Leader Simon Hughes under investigation by Parliamentary watchdog over donations

December 7, 2012 12:48 pm

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The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has begun an investigation into donations worth almost £25,000 made to Simon Hughes MP’s local party following a complaint from the Leader of Southwark Council. The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards confirmed to us that Hughes was under investigation, but would only say that it pertained to “declaration, registration and lobbying”.

However LabourList understands that the investigation is in relation to donations from two companies - Southwark Metals and City Cruises.

The Lib Dem Deputy Leader asked questions and spoke about both companies in Parliament after his local party had received donations from the companies worth thousands of pounds, without registering these donations in his interests or declaring the interests when speaking.

Meanwhile, last night London Regional Lib Dems had their Christmas Cruise on the Thames. The boat they were on was operated by City Cruises.

The speaker? Simon Hughes MP.

All for a very reasonable £30 per head…

Update: This post originally stated that the donations in question were “cash donations”. We’ve had a call from his office, stating that they don’t accept cash donations and neither do their local party. They did however confirm that an investigation is ongoing. We’re happy to place both of those facts on the record.

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  • http://twitter.com/johnringer John Ringer

    In full fairness, he mentioned City Cruises 13 years ago… Otherwise it all seems very dodgy indeed!

  • http://twitter.com/johnringer John Ringer

    In full fairness, he mentioned City Cruises 13 years ago… Otherwise it all seems very dodgy indeed!

  • http://twitter.com/johnringer John Ringer

    In full fairness, he mentioned City Cruises 13 years ago… Otherwise it all seems very dodgy indeed!

  • AlanGiles

    “Let he among you without sin cast the first stone”……

    Sadly, far too many politicians show a complete lack of integrity and sense where money is concerned. All parties, as programmes like Channel 4′s “Despatches” showed, are blighted by money-mad self-aggrandising individuals.

    • aracataca
      • AlanGiles

        You clearly didn’t notice I wrote “all parties”, Bill. “All parties” means just that.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001102865655 John Ruddy

      i see no reason why we shouldnt highlight these issues amongst ther parties, especially when they have done so very gleefully when it happens to Labour representaties.

      • AlanGiles

        By all means, but we shouldn’t pretend any party is innocent in this regard. It is very sad – regardless of party – that so many politicians cannot be trusted in their behaviour; one of the reasons politicians as a whole are held in such low regard by so many members of the public.

      • AlanGiles

        By all means, but we shouldn’t pretend any party is innocent in this regard. It is very sad – regardless of party – that so many politicians cannot be trusted in their behaviour; one of the reasons politicians as a whole are held in such low regard by so many members of the public.

  • Stepney

    There must be some mistake. Everyone knows that Saint Simon is so pure and good and sweet and perfect in every way that every evening every Liberal Democrat prays his thanks to the almighty that Simon has blessed them with his presence. They strew flowers in his path down Bermondsey way, did you know that? I cannot believe this is true. Mother Teresa yes, of course. Super shiny Simon? Never. Impossible. No.

  • PaulHalsall

    Southwark Labour Council is one that is using “liar software” on housing and council benefit applicants.

    Not my idea of a nice Labour council, so I have little sympathy here.

    • AlanGiles

      Hi Paul One of the great ironies of both recent governments is that the more “concerned” the minister is about benefit cheats (e.g. Duncan-Smith, Grayling, Laws, Purnell and McNulty et al) the more likely that he is fiddling his expenses himself.

  • Daniel Speight

    Ha – so Luke Bozier where will you go now? Does Cameron still love you? Louise Mensch doesn’t anymore. Now what was it called? Labour for Business, Business for Labour, Busy Labour, Fat Cats for Labour. Oh well maybe it can just get back to being the Labour Party again.

  • Daniel Speight

    Ha – so Luke Bozier where will you go now? Does Cameron still love you? Louise Mensch doesn’t anymore. Now what was it called? Labour for Business, Business for Labour, Busy Labour, Fat Cats for Labour. Oh well maybe it can just get back to being the Labour Party again.

  • postageincluded

    The not-so-straight choice.

  • MarinerAncien

    Why is Hughes actions any less than Neil Hamilton’s?

  • http://twitter.com/renieanjeh Renie Anjeh

    Hopefully there will be a Bermondsey and Old Southwark by-election, if there is more to this story than what meets the eye! Another Labour gain!

  • Brumanuensis

    As this is quasi sub-judice, I think we all ought to avoid saying anything potentially prejudicial until this has been resolved.

    Just a thought.

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