Exactly one year on: Derek Conway gets a slap on the wrists, but so much more should have been done

11.11.00am GMT Thu 29th Jan 2009

On 29 January 2008, one year ago today, Duncan Borrowman submitted a complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding the employment of his elder son, Henry Conway.

It was clear from the report into the employment of his other son Freddie that there was a case to answer over Henry, that he had been paid for work he didn't actually do. Press reports quoted fellow students who said he could not have had the time to do the work he was being paid for.

Duncan Borrowman says:

"Let me be clear, my complaint was not about employing a family members. It was about paying one for not actually doing the work."

Section 6.2.1 of the "Green Book" on the employment of MPs' staff says:

It is a Member's responsibility to ensure that staff paid from this allowance are:

• Employed to meet a genuine need in supporting you, the Member, in performing your Parliamentary duties;

• Able and (if necessary) qualified to do the job;

• Actually doing the job

And that the resulting costs, in so far as they are charged to this allowance, are reasonable and entirely attributable to the Member's Parliamentary work.

"It was clear to me that Henry Conway's employment did not fit these guidelines. Now the Commissioner has made his findings, and the Committee for Standards and Priviliges has reached a conclusion. Derek Conway's punishment is to repay some money and write a letter of apology.

"Quite frankly, this is not enough. Derek Conway has done more than any other individual, and that is saying something, to bring disrepute on MPs and all politicians. There should be a mechanism for removing from office MPs who treat taxpayers with the contempt that Mr Conway has, just to line the pockets of his family. Derek Conway should go. And go now!

In any other job Mr Conway would be sacked for gross misconduct."

I call again for the Metropolitan Police to investigate Mr Conway for fraud.