William Wragg's honeytrap crisis and is Speaker Hoyle under threat?

Apr 12, 2024

Former House of Commons Clerk, Paul Evans, discusses William Wragg's 'honeytrap sting' crisis and the potential investigation into the conduct of Speaker Hoyle. They explore the vulnerabilities of public officials in the digital age and the complexities of personal conduct in public service. The episode also touches on misleading testimonies by former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells and the political earthquake in Northern Ireland with DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson facing historical sexual offense charges. The podcast delves into accountability, integrity, evolving perceptions of seniority in Parliament, historical precedents, and ongoing legislative issues.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Accountability and Integrity in Political Turmoil

02:20 • 6min

Evolving Perceptions of Seniority in Parliament

08:07 • 17min

Historical Precedents, Democracy Lecture Promotion, and Implications of MP Resignation

24:56 • 5min

MPs' Offense Charges and All-Party Parliamentary Groups

29:33 • 14min

Discussion on Representing a Debate and Listener Engagement

43:24 • 2min

This week we are joined by former House of Commons Clerk, Paul Evans, to discuss William Wragg’s fall from grace following a ‘honeytrap sting’. What does it tell us about the vulnerabilities public officials face in the digital age, and the complex interplay between personal conduct and public service?

Numerous press reports suggest the Government may support another cross-party attempt to refer the conduct of the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP and the Labour Leader, Sir Keir Starmer MP, to the Privileges Committee over claims of improper coercion before the Opposition Day debate on Gaza last month. Could the Speaker survive an investigation into his conduct and how would the process work?

Fresh evidence has come to light suggesting Paula Vennells, former Chief Executive of the Post Office, may have knowingly misled MPs when she appeared before Select Committees looking into events at the company. Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee, says he’s exploring all the options available to investigate and if necessary sanction her. But what are the options available?

Northern Ireland has experienced a political earthquake with the news that DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson MP has been charged with historical sexual offences. But what does the news mean for Westminster where the debate about how to manage such situations – balancing the rights of the accused with the safety of the parliamentary community – remains unresolved.

And we ask 'where have all the All Party Parliamentary Groups gone'? New research by MySociety shows that in the last month there has been a 39% reduction in the number of APPGs following changes in the registration rules designed to enhance transparency and accountability. Have the APPGs really stopped working or have they, as investigative journalist Peter Geoghegan suggests, just been rebadged as informal parliamentary liaison groups?

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