ONE fifth of MPs use taxpayers’ money to employ a family member even though new members of parliament are banned from the practice.
The latest Register of Members’ Financial Interests reveals that 122 of the 589 current MPs declared that they employ a relative.
Only the 61 new MPs who were voted in at the June General Election are forbidden to employ relatives, and campaigners against the practice have now called for a clear end date for all MPs.
The new ban was announced in March by parliamentary watchdog Ipsa after the practice was described as “out of step” with current employment laws.
As the ban was brought in sooner than expected because of the snap election, MPs already employing family members were allowed to continue.
“The ban on new MPs employing family members reflects the public’s concerns about nepotism and the potential abuse of public money,” said Alexandra Runswick, director of Unlock Democracy.
“A transitional period is reasonable, particularly as the snap election means that these rules have come into force three years earlier than expected.
“However, there does need to be a clear end date. If MPs employing family members is wrong in principle then when the MP was first elected is irrelevant. While it is reasonable the current employees have some protection, it is important that we move to a situation where the rules apply equally to all MPs.”
MPs have long argued that family members provide the trust they require and are more likely to be understanding of the long hours and unpredictable work patterns. There was fury when a limit of just one family member was imposed in 2010 following the expenses scandal.
Ipsa said the ban was not due to inappropriate claims or any abuse of the rules but because of a need for good employment practice and transparency which outweighed any benefits claimed by MPs.
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