Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chloe Smith and Andrew Stephenson

Tuesday 9th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

2. What assessment he has made of the role of campaigning by bodies other than political parties in elections.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Miss Chloe Smith)]

At the 2010 general election, the Electoral Commission registered 30 so-called third parties, which between them spent nearly £3 million. The Government are introducing sensible and necessary improvements to the controls on third parties to ensure that they are fully transparent and not allowed to distort the political process.

[Andrew Stephenson]

Given the scandal involving Unite the Union in Falkirk, and the leaked internal document showing that it is now trying to influence selections in 40 other constituencies across the country, including Pendle, does the Minister agree that there is huge public demand for complete transparency on the influence of trade unions on our political system?

[Miss Smith]

It is high time this is looked at. I think that the examples my hon. Friend has just given demonstrate that these are by no means isolated cases. It is the same old Labour party, which Len McCluskey still bankrolls, still rigs selections for, still controls and still chooses the leader for.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chloe Smith and Andrew Stephenson

Wednesday 5th September 2012 Commons Chamber

[Miss Smith]

The hon. Gentleman raises a vital point. More than half the quangos in government will be reformed. There will be no return to the old ways of working. He is right, too, that we need to be accountable in this process, which is why we are instituting triennial reviews and other measures in order to ensure we keep on this path.

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

5. What recent assessment he has made of the second round of National Citizen Service pilots.