Members Room Bookings Live
The room bookings on the Palace Estate files have now been published. Some MPs have been trousering thousands from lobbyists and commercial interests to act as a room booking service.
There is a scratch-my-back, I-scratch-yours aspect to this racket, politicians get paid to advise lobbying firms in a general capacity, they then book rooms for clients of the lobbyists. It is hard to nail ‘em for this, but Guido will try…
Link to report [PDF] here.
Post info in the comments…
UPDATES : John Denham held breakfast event for AXA & registered an interest in providing them consultancy work the next month.
Patricia Hewitt booked Commons rooms 5 times for companies she had financial interests in – Boots, BT & Cinven.
John Mann, the holier-than-thou MP, held an event for Morgan Allen Moore (MAM), the controversial lobbyists implicated in the events surrounding Peter Hain’s resignation from the Cabinet in January 2008. MAM were the first lobbying firm ever to be kicked out of the lobbyist’s trade body. That is how bad they were.
The Right Honourable John McFall, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, likes to rail against the bankers on Newsnight. Obviously that is when he he can spare the time from hosting receptions for the Royal Bank of Scotland in the Strangers Dining Room (June ‘08).
The oh, so green Ed Miliband sponsored a dinner for the Oil and Gas Industry Dinner in the Astor Room (Sep ‘09).
Labour’s Jamie Reed booked for lobbyists Weber Shandwick – put it through as Weber Sandwich (Mar ‘o6).
Bercow hosts Masonic reception for 145. Gray’s Inn Lodge Ladies Night (Jun ‘06)
Did David Davies get a free Blackberry for hosting Research in Motion for dinner in February?
Shagging Nigel Griffiths hosted lunch for Labour Finance and Industry Group, they have donated over £60k between 2005-2007 (May ‘06)
Stephen McCabe held a dinner for a top Labour party donor Lord Bhattacharyya. He donated over £400,000 to the Labour Party. (May ‘08)
Andrew Miller held a reception for Microsoft after receiving a paid-for trip to Berlin by them. (Jun ‘08)
Mark Oaten, director of BHTA, hosts dinners mainaly for BHTA. Go figure.
Mark Tami MP booked the E.ON Parliamentary Dinner. E.ON UK made a cash donation of £10,000 by way of sponsorship to the national Labour Party in October 2007. (Mar ‘09)
Labour Chief Whip Nick Brown hosted a reception for Amec Oil and Gas. (Dec ‘06) His register of interests for the same year: “22-26 August 2006, to Stavanger, Norway, to visit Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) conference and exhibition, with the British Offshore Oil and Gas Industry All-Party Parliamentary Group. Overseas flights, hotel accommodation, local transport and hospitality sponsored by the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA).” Amec is a member of UKOOA.
More Masonic connections – Tony Baldry hosted the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey. (Sep ‘05)
This is what Gordo has to say on the matter:
Oh boy, this is fun. the Stench of corruption, the kickbacks, the lobbyists, the “special interests”. All in black and white.
I’ll tax you 50p in the pound like that.
page 164: RBS
McFall, Rt Hon John
18/06/2008
Royal Bank of Scotland
Reception
100
Strangers Dining Room
John McFall, chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, likes to rail against the bankers on Newsnight.
Which planet was this on?
Every time this submissive servile fatcat was challenged to name real and substantial reforms that would hit the Banks he backed off with his tail between his legs.
And now we know why.
He may have given thrown the odd populist insult at them but that was pure theatre for the idiots.
Why does the word ‘corruption’ keep flashing before my eyes??
Fecking Bollinger Bolsheviks!
What Guido are you doing to help Tory Politico?
Mrs Iris Robinson MP
Strangford
Mrs Robinson was paid £1,644.90 in January 2006 for the cost of a bed, which exceeded the guideline price of £1,100 by £544.90.
She was paid £1,429.99 for service charges in May 2009 which appears to have duplicated the same payment to her husband who is also an MP.
Surprised it wasn’t a waterbed!
I wouldn’t mind some private “face” time with Mrs Robinson!
Any port in a storm.
So what?
They get paid to consult and hire a room for a meeting. The problem is the consultancy, not the room hiring.
It’s Parliament not a fucking church hall or a hotel for conventions
MP’s booking rooms for entertaining is a bit of a non-story. I have been to various trade association dinners booked by a sponsoring MP, but they are always charged back at a commercial rate and effectively allow non-MP people to use these rather grand facilities and presumably help towards their cost. Good for impressing foreign punters. The expenses and flipping are the real scandal.
Exactly. If companies get a thrill out of having a party at the HoC then that’s up to them.
The real problem is the influence these companies can have on legislation and government policy, through effectively buying compliant and greedy M.P.’s.
and where do you suppose this influence is peddled and bought and sold?
line up the names with the companies and you have a road map to corruption
follow the money and follow the legislation and you might even have criminal offences hidden in the muck
if there were still plenty of real investigative journalists instead of the entertainment PR mouthpieces and churnalists in now everywhere in the street of shame this raw data would be turned into front page scandal headlines in days
In the old days we used to get a brown envelope, but a few idiots got caught out that way.
These days the favours still get done, the questions still get asked but now we get a nice little directorship or a bit of “consultancy” work.
Wink, wink. Oink, oink.
I agree. God alone knows what the Sunday papers are going to find. Hopefully this could bring a few of the suicides we were promised.
Can’t quite keep up on this one. Do we commit an offence or not if we offer to help them?
If there’s no problem with booking these rooms in the HoC, then surely there’s no problem with me requesting one of these rooms for a massive gang-bang, complete with video cameras, because we like to do it in posh places you see.
or perhaps Mr Fawkes could book one for 600 guests and a bonfire event
Idea duly noted. Now, I need an MP to back it. Kerry probably won’t help, hmmm…Carswell
Carswell had to pay back 2 grand – he claimed for a deposit on his flat, then moved and claimed for another deposit even though he was refunded the first.
Probably still a good bet for Guido’s party though – can it be arranged for November 5th?
that’s Nick Clegg and Paddy Ashdown’s entertainment taken care of then
Why the fuck are they booking rooms for Freemason’s evenings when there are so many Freemason Lodges in London?
What the fuck is going on here?
According to Dan Brown Freemasons support the EU
Ma ha bone
So mote it be
Fabians, Socialists, Zionists and Freemasons.
I’m surprised they haven’t stripped the lead from the roof of Parliament
?? Anybody got anything on consultants like
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Nathaniel Lichfield
Colliers CRE
GVA Grimley
GL Hearn
oh – and newly formed links as OGC policy advisors and lobbying agents are also available through:
US firm Cassidy Turley
Planning applications are our speciality.
New banking systems made to order.
It’s all serving some greater common purpose, i’m sure.
From a quick search of the doc, no references to any of the words or three letter acronyms you mention – not to say they weren’t booked in under another name though.
There are lots of bookings with “T.B.A.” or under the MP’s own name, or with such descriptive titles as “Dinner” or “Reception” – so possibly some good old fashioned investigative journalism needed here!
Allo, allo, allo
http://www.globest.com/news/1592_1592/stlouis/183390-1.html
really sir, that is very interesting.
GVA Grimley are a property consultants involved in a number of public building projects including some FE colleges
185,000 Toyota’s recalled
Wonder why
http://www.toyotauk.com/main/lastest-news/View-Chancellor-Launches-Auris-Video.jsp
JONAH STRIKES.
..wish he would go on strike!
…wish he would call the fucking election!
25/05/2004 James Purnell said TBC – Who are TBC? To be confirmed?
Possibly Tameside Business Council.
probably booked for Milliband and the others who suddenly cancelled after Mandlebum phoned him
TBC = Total B0llocks Carping
OT
Piers Morgan to interview McBroon.
Morgan said Mr Brown was “an absolutely perfect subject” for the show.
“I have known Gordon Brown for over 15 years – he is a man who has enjoyed great triumph, suffered terrible tragedy, and will soon face the biggest challenge of his career,” Morgan said.
“He is also the Prime Mentalist”, Morgan should have added.
And Broon’s father (John EBENEZER Brown!) was a church minister who visited Israel every year for ten years and was chairman of the church’s Israel committee.
Not that that forsaken place is hugely overrepresented in western governments or anything…
The problem with New Labour is very simple.
“I know he’s minister for children but he doesn’t have to behave like one.”
My favourite DC one-liner.
I note that Stephen Pound seems to enjoy himself rather a lot – odious man……..
always seems like a pervy uncle you don’t want to be alone with
I think he was much funnier when he played Grandpa in The Munsters.
Is that Steven “If you need a Liebour on-message soundbite on the radio, then I’m your man” Pound?
Stephen Pound is Mr Punch.
Yay, more troughing!
What a brilliant day to have off work, let’s get reading some more!
Ed Balls, Dinner for 20 for the Fabian Society 18/05/2006
Probably just him, Prescott and Smith in attendance, oh yes and Brown (N). Five portions each, please waiter!
Russel Brown MP – Burns’ night supper for 50, in 2007, 08 and 09 – I wonder who was invited to that?
Who on earth thought Mark Oaten was a suitable person to be involved in the British Healthcare Trades Association? He’s never struck me as being very hygienic.
Talking about being fed the brown stuff – didn’t Saint Bliar when campaigning for his 1997 election promise to “not only be whiter than white, but to be seen to be whiter than white”?
Well tone, you lot sure were seen as something that rhymes with white. I wonder how he thinks that promise went? And I’m not talking about the huge black squares on his expenses claims either.
Cameron, David
28/10/2008
West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons
Tea
14
Dining Room C
It seems reasonable up to a point, since he is MP for Witney. We are not however in amity with ‘Lady Freemasons’ at our lodge. I understand that Cameron is on the square so I am rather surprised at his choice of teatime companions.
“We are not however in amity with ‘Lady Freemasons’ at our lodge.”
I should hope not.
Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Superb
Ben Chapman MP – lots of functions (15?) with names suggesting links to China and Hong Kong
Nearly all of the lobby groups seem to be respectable organisations that I would expect MPs to meet in the course of their work. I think MPs should be paid quite a lot more but should however be banned from accepting any perks from lobby groups or by creative expenses claims.
Interesting that Richard Bacon booked a room for a ‘Briefing for Pig Farmers’ in February 2009 – obviously thinking about his post-slaughter future.
John Cummings – reception x3 for “Tobacco Workers Alliance”
not picking on you in particular Steve, but these people are M.P.’s after all and need to be aware of issues like those affecting Tobacco Workers so they can make educated comments? How else can M.P.’s make themselves aware wthout meetings?
Some of these will no doubt have genuine stories behind them and will be completely above board – hence the highlighting of them here for comment.
3 annual receptions for up to 60 people in this case does seem rather excessive though
Perhaps he’s addicted to meeting them? Just say ‘No’ to TWA…
Do we have any tobacco workers left? Havent they all been offshored years ago?
Does David Davis have a Blackberry??
Davies, David
24/02/2009
Research in Motion
Dinner
15
Dining Room C
Dunno. Maybe David DAVIES does! Different bloke.
whoops, error well spotted.
Does David Davies have a Blackberry??
Research in Motion – wasn’t that the fragrant Mr Oaten’s hobby?
Nigel Evans hosts every year a dinner for
“The Old Giggleswickian Club” – any ideas?
Posh school in his constituency ? (or quite near).
Although on the downside the most famous past pupil was Richard Whiteley.
Russell Harty was a teacher there
oh and:
Anthony Daniels (born 21 February 1946) is an English mime actor, best known for his role as the droid C-3PO
It’s the Old Boys’ Club of Giggleswick School, a boarding academy located near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales, where Russell Harty was once a teacher – get the picture ?
For those of more rural persuasions, it is surrounded by fields full of very attractive sheep.
I think you’ll find the sheep up the road in Sedbergh are even prettier. ;-)
Yes, a good lay, but such a long way round to kiss them…..
’tis a school.
nice to see Nick Herbert MP entertaining the rough trade of Stonewall for dinner, Lynne Jones entertaining the BBC for breakfast, Sadiq Kahn hosting the Fabians Xmas dinner whilst also hosting Islamic Relief, Ptere Kilfoye seems VERY keen on having the Police to dinner, Khalid Mahmood appears to work for the Pakistan tourist Board mostly, Michael Mates has some VERY dodgy connections, Tony McNulty appears to have converted to Hinduism and Alun Michael is now a somali.
Moving onwards, what the hell goes with andrew Mitchell and his “one nation” dinners every week, Elliot “Guilty” Morley seems to love Globe UK (climate change stuff), Terry Rooney inviting the Mormons, is there anyone Barry Sheerman hasn’t entertained? Gisela Stuart reminds herself of her roots by inviting the German embassy over every two weeks, Keith Vaz puts his feet up and entertains the whole of India-twice, and robert Walter seems to have turned Japanese. Lady winterton obvioulsy has her hair done for free as well,
Greater minds than mine will pull this report apart. Hopefully we’ll get the suicides they promised
Terry Rooney invited them because he is a Moron. Sorry! Mormon.
Said to be the only Mormon in the House. Thank God. Wonder how he squares his Mormon temple blood oaths to his church with his oath to the Queen?
Guido, More on MAM scum:
Follett, Hon Barbara
09/11/2005
Morgan Allen Moore
Dinner
12
Dining Room D
Turner, Desmond
26/10/2005
Morgan Allen Moore
Reception
40
Dining Room A
Turner, Desmond
13/12/2005
Morgan Allen Moore
Reception
25
Dining Room B
David, Wayne
31/01/2006
Morgan Allen Moore
Dinner
13
Dining Room C
Nothing to do me .
Nothing to do with ME.
It was PermTan Ponce.
DUANE EDDY ?
Oooh, that Peter is ever so naughty. Sorry, I meant haughty.
Well done Steve :-) Keep up the good work!
The slimey Morgan the Organ is still plying his sleazy trade around Westminster – saw him lunching a Labour MP just the other day.
I’m sure he will have wanted something in return for the noshing.
Thanks DB, I got lucky with a day off working today :-)
Prosecutions tomorrow hopefully, can’t wait!!
Any idea of the link between an optical phamacutical company and the now Mayor of London?
Johnson, Boris
08/09/2006
Alcon Laboratories
Reception
120
Members Dining Room, Terrace Pavilion
Sadly Jamie Reed seems to keep his corruption and nepotism in his constituency (mine).
In fact the most incriminating thing thats come out of this mess for him is that his full first name is Jamieson.
Dianne Abbot with Ujima – discussing how to run a housing company?
The Parliamentary advisory committee on transport safety (PACTS) sounded impressive till we found it was nothing more than a lobby group made up of insurance companies,speed camera manufacturers and such like, all of whom have a vested interest in the Road safety industry (more points higher premiums).
My voluntary organization ‘The Association of British Drivers’ which is a member of the committee and the only outfit speaking up for ordinary drivers, has been ridiculed by the ‘PACTS’ chief executive.
I wouldn’t mind but the ABD pays ‘PACTS’ £400 a year to be a member, only to be ignored and ridiculed.
I understand you can pay more to be a member if you like.
That would explain a lot.
No person should be allowed to stand for election without having the approval of the British Army and have done at least two years of service.
And no pigeon toed short sighted chosen ones
Sorry,
Council not Committee.PACTS
I like to wear leather boots and a mask
Err – Milipede Junior is Energy Minister, talking to the oil industry is what we pay him to do….
there’s talking and then there’s no bid contracts, competition laws, planning permission/committees and all sorts of fun hidden in legisaltion
“Bercow hosts Masonic reception for 145. Gray’s Inn Lodge Ladies Night (Jun ‘06)”
He’s must have felt like a terrier in a lampost factory at that party.
Ann Keen was on Radio 4 saying, ‘I’m very honest’. Very?
…so obviously she thinks that the nickname “Mrs Expenses” is totally unjustified?
I think it was Ann Cryer, not Ann Keen.
Aah, those poor troughing hoons.
Total to be recovered* = £1.12m
Total cost of inquiry = £1.16m
Net recouped by taxpayer £40,000
*assuming everyone pasy AND no more appeals are successful. It’s quite possible we’ll make a loss. Unbelievable.
No, actually, very believable.
Eh? 1.12 – 1.16 = -0.4
We’re _down_ 40 grand on your figures…
I’m a twat! That should be = -0.04
No, I’m a twat.
No, I’m a twat.
I’m a twat. We’ve already lost havent we
A couple more from the Masons Guido
Watkinson, Angela
29/04/2004
City Livery Lodge
Dinner
52
Dining Room A
Gillan, Cheryl
22/09/2005
Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey
Reception
150
Terrace Pavilion
It’s just as much a mystery to me why my expenses claims were shredded.
I love my new Manholo Blahniks.
Can someone recommend a good dentist to Gordon?
Could somebody point me to the record of “Nigel Griffiths hosted lunch for Ann Summers – Sales People of the Year Awards” :-)
Can’t see that one – his bookings are on page 90 of
http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/Functions%20and%20Events.pdf
if you think it might be called something else…
Yep, you’re right, Scottish Widows!
You missed one on the Freemason front, as follows:
David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, booked Dining Room C on October 28, 2008 for 14 members of the West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons. The event, of course, was “tea”.
It is pitiful beyond words.
Not missed – see point 27 above
http://order-order.com/2010/02/04/members-room-bookings-live/#comment-432696
There’s at least 6 MPs hosting Masons seen so far
They’re all a bunch of shyster, bastard, money grubbing Hoons.
There’s no need to sack ‘em or let ‘em resign, shoot the whole fucking lot of ‘em.
They have no concept of ethics or morals, swine.
And I’m referring to th Parliamentarians not that other midden.
[...] Guido is having a great time trawling the function room bookings. It is a gold mine of sleazy connections and favours. Keep track of developments here. [...]
What’s that strange mention on page 319?
Doing a search for Masonic connections:
We have David Cameron (28/10/2008, West Oxfordshire Lady Freemasons)
Tony Baldry (as you’ve noted)
Bercow (as you’ve noted)
and
Angela Watkinson (29/04/2004 City Livery Lodge)
“More Masonic connections – Tony Baldry hosted the Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey. (Sep ‘05)”
They’re all in fucking bed with each other. Or all in bed fucking each other.
Bastards. Execute all the fucking freemasons for starters – they are covering each others arses and sticking up for each other’s ‘brotherly’ interests however louche they may be, rather than fighting for the interests of the electorate that put them there.
Perhaps there should be £ 1.12 million bounty for each dead freemason ?
the electorate are the ones being fucked – it’s about time we fought back against these criminal scum
What a shame you don’t take the trouble to find out what freemasonry is really about – Charitable giving and high moral standards.
Nigel Griffihs can shag me for 60,000.
Give me a job.
What an incredible embarrasment Fawkes has become. The event overseeen by Morgan Allen Moore was for the Daily Telegraph 2009 Christmas charity Bliss and two other childrens charities, hence they used a PR company to book.
Bliss is the charity for premature babies and an excellent use of Parliamentary faciliuties.
I trust Fawkes sends a healthydonation tonight.
“and two other childrens charities, hence they used a PR company to book”
No, sorry, don’t get it. Why does the involvement of a childrens charity require a PR company?
“the charity for premature babies and an excellent use of Parliamentary facilities”
No, still don’t get it….. why is a charity for anything an excellent use of Parliamentary facilities.
The cynic in me suggests that Morgan Allen Moore are involved because its a charity close to the PM and Mrs Brown…..
I think you may have put your finger on something there, Rexel. Maybe John Mann MP will give us his further thoughts?
The project is currently funded by a three year Department of Health Section 64 grant (2008/09 £41,815) which has additionally enabled it to be translated into five languages and be available to download from our website.
Charity Commission submitted accts. quite interesting.
They hand out a million. No doubt it is well spent on deserving causes BUT why do they have to spend 600k to generate their voluntary funds.
ie. if you give a pound to them, they keep shy of 40p in overheads.
Who does what for these funds?
What does a PR Agency do for them? And how much do they charge?
It is not a big charity in terms of finance, but move in exalted(!) circles.
Ian Taylor MP holding a reception on 25 Sept 2008 for 80 people for a company that he’s a director of – Avanti Communications Group. Presumably to thank them for the “one night’s accommodation and a day’s shooting as a guest of Avanti Communications plc” on 22 Sept 2008.
Peter Hain rings a bell.
Ex-BNFL MP Jamie Reed, opens the door to two pro-nuclear lobbying firms – hosting a reception on 14 March for Sovereign Strategy (it lobbies for the Transatlantic Nuclear Energy Forum and used to for Fluor); and a dinner a week later for Weber Sandwich (sic), which has a history of lobbying for nuclear new build, including for BNFL:http://tiny.cc/7ZXt6
Lobbying firm Edelman treats Parliament like its own private dining room – holding 7 dinners and receptions in 18 months.
BBC feature in one form or another 52 times across the years, entertaining 1710 parliamentarians of various hues. Probably a thousand pounds a gig, so £50k at least of tax payers cash spooged on trying to secure more tax payers cash and promoting wholesome experiments like project Canvas. That’s a couple of pairs of shoes for Caroline Thompson!
[...] track of developments, at Guido Fawkes Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)(2009) New Labour M.P. Patricia Hewitt -SON FINED [...]
These fucking thieves are taking the fucking piss.
Assassinations will become the only recourse.
Check out the entry for Jeremy Hunt. He has an entry for a company he founded and still works for – hotcourses.
[...] pointed out here by Guido, along with a few other juicy [...]
Your treatment of Yeo on Newsnight was completely out of order.