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Mr Bill Rammell MP: Resolution Letter

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Mr Bill Rammell MP: Resolution Letter 1 Complaints rectified 2008-09 Mr Bill Rammell MP: Resolution Letter Letter to Mr Daniel Brett from the Commissioner, 14 April 2008 I have now completed my inquiries into your complaint against Mr Bill Rammell MP about the work of his Parliamentary research officer, [name], which my predecessor received from you on 6 December last year. I e-mailed you on 29 January following your e-mail to me, to let you know that I was pursuing the matter. I have now received a full response from Mr Bill Rammell and advice from the Department of Resources in the House of Commons. I am satisfied from these responses that there was no breach of the rules in respect of the time [his research officer] spent on work in support of the Harlow Labour Party, but she should not have used Parliamentary e-mail facilities, including identifying herself as Mr Rammell’s researcher, in undertaking this work. To have done so was a breach of the rules. I have not found any breach of the rules in respect of Mr Rammell’s advertisement for a Parliamentary Communications and Community Engagement Manager. It is open to a member of staff working for a Member of Parliament and paid for from Parliamentary resources to undertake in their own time other activities, including activities of a party political nature. [This employee’s .]’s work on behalf of the Harlow Labour Party was either undertaken out of her normal contracted hours (as some of the e- mails attached to your letter show) or she was taking time off in lieu of the additional hours she spent supporting Mr Rammell in the evenings and at weekends in the course of his Parliamentary duties. Such time off in lieu is a normal and accepted part of the terms for staff employed by Members on Parliamentary business. Mr Rammell has, however, accepted that it was not appropriate for [his researcher] to use the Parliamentary e-mail facilities for the e-mails she sent in support of the Harlow Labour Party. It was all the more unfortunate as these e- mails carried the automatic signature identifying [his researcher]’s position in Mr Rammell’s office. Mr Rammell has taken action to rectify the position. He has instructed his staff that no Parliamentary facilities—and particularly no e- mail accounts—should be used for any activity that either was linked or could be construed as being linked to direct political campaigning. He has also instructed his staff to remove from their Parliamentary e-mail contact databases any mailing lists of Labour party members in twinned constituencies. And he has briefed all his staff on their responsibilities under the Code of Conduct for Members and its associated rules. Taken together, these actions are intended to ensure that there is no recurrence of the circumstances which led to your complaint. I have also considered the draft advertisement for Mr Rammell’s Parliamentary Communications and Community Engagement Manager. Taking account of the normal procedures of the House, I am satisfied that there is nothing in the content of the advertisement which breaches the House's Code of Conduct. It is a fair reflection of the duties and qualities which can provide appropriate support for a Member in undertaking their parliamentary business. I have, therefore, upheld your complaint only in respect of the use by Mr Rammell’s researcher of parliamentary facilities for party political purposes, which was a breach of the rules. Mr Rammell has accepted that this was inappropriate and I am satisfied that Mr Rammell has taken appropriate action to ensure there is no recurrence. On that basis, I regard this matter as closed. I shall notify the outcome to the House of Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges. I am copying this letter to Mr Bill Rammell and to the Department of Resources. Thank you for raising your concerns with me. 14 April 2008 2 Complaints rectified 2008-09 Mr Bill Rammell MP: Written Evidence 1. Letter to the Commissioner from Mr Daniel Brett, received on 6 December 2007 I am writing to lodge a complaint against Bill Rammell MP regarding the use of parliamentary facilities for party political campaigning. Ahead of two local council by-elections in Harlow, Mr Rammell’s constituency, held on 25 October, I received e- mails from his parliamentary office, signed by his parliamentary researcher [name], which detailed instructions on campaigning for the Labour party candidates. I have enclosed these e-mails, including the full headers to confirm that they are authentic and were sent from Mr Rammell’s office in the House of Commons. I do not know why I received these e-mails as I have never been a constituent of Mr Rammell or a member of the Harlow Constituency Labour Party. It is clear that the intended recipients are Labour supporters in Harlow and in neighbouring constituencies. I believe that [his researcher]’s use of her MP’s parliamentary facilities to carry out her role as Harlow CLP’s campaign manager is an inappropriate use of public funds and could breach the Code of Conduct. If parliamentary researchers are allowed to engage in party political organisation on behalf of their MPs’ local parties, then it would constitute a public subsidy to political parties. Before contacting you, I have taken advice from a number of sources and there is consensus that there is enough prima facie evidence of a breach of the rules for your office to launch an investigation. I was also concerned that, since these e-mails are marked confidential, I would be breaking the law by disclosing the e-mails from Mr Rammell’s office. However, I am now convinced there is sufficient public interest to send you the e-mails.1 In the context of these e-mails, Mr Rammell has also advertised for a vacancy in his office for a Parliamentary Communications and Community Engagement Manager, 2 which would involve work that contravenes the Code of Conduct and which I feel should be reviewed. Received 6 December 2007 2. E-mail to Mr Daniel Brett from [Mr Rammell’s employee], 4 September 2007 Harriet Harman—our new Deputy Party Leader—will be in Harlow tomorrow afternoon to help with our local campaigning. 2 longstanding Labour Councillors in Harlow have sadly died in the last 10 days so it's been a difficult fortnight for the local party and we now face the prospect of two by-elections in the coming weeks. It is of course imperative that we win these - both for the future leadership of Harlow Council and in the context of the wider general election campaign. As a member of one of Harlow’s “twinned” constituencies for the general election (whenever it may be!) Bill Rammell and Harriet would be really grateful if you could therefore make it over to Harlow tomorrow to join them on the doors for an important voter contact session. She will be out on the doors with Bill tomorrow afternoon—Wednesday 5th September—starting at 3:10pm. We'll be meeting outside the NW Essex Adult Community College on [address] A map link is below. ... I know it’s a bit short notice (unfortunately it’s usually the way with ministerial visits!) but I hope you can make it. 1 WE 2 to WE 6 2 WE 7 3 Complaints rectified 2008-09 We’d really appreciate a great turnout from our twinned CLPs—it’s a great opportunity to talk to residents, raise some issues, show her how we campaign in Harlow, get some positive press coverage etc . Please let myself [phone number] or our constituency organiser [name] [phone number] know if you can attend. 4 September 2007 3. E-mail to Mr Daniel Brett from [Mr Rammell’s staff member], 5 October 2007 I don’t know whether the PM will call a General Election next week but if he does we have to be ready. So we've been making preparations for a flying start! THIS WEEKEND—FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON—we will have a variety of jobs that we need assistance with a) leaflet delivery; b) labelling and envelope stuffing; c) data inputting on the computer; d) looking up telephone numbers e) putting sticky corners on posters; f) printing and photocopying; g) phoning etc If you can help please let us know either by return e-mail or by phone to the office on [phone number] or to one of the campaign team (mobile contact's are below). Then, whatever day Gordon may call it (if he calls it!) we will be leafleting our “flying start” material that afternoon /evening—so please do come across to help. THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN—we will of course have lots of work to do every day: a) Leaflet delivery b) Doorstep contact work c) Telephone contact work d) Data inputting on the computer e) Helping with the printer and folding machine (they are easy to use but training will be provided!) f) We will also need office /admin support—we’ll have a rota of people who can help man the phones so let us know if you can help with that (given the attention that will focus on Harlow I'm expecting an enormous number of calls so this will be an essential job!) g) Anyone who can help out managing the candidates diary / draft basic correspondence would also be a real help! CONTACTS Should the campaign be called, key contacts will be: [...]—campaign organiser—[phone numbers] or [e-mail address] 4 Complaints rectified 2008-09 [...]—volunteer co-ordinator—[phone number] [e-mail address] [...] is also the PPC for [...]—so CLP twinning is in action!) [...]— campaign manager—[telephone number/ e-mail address] DONATIONS A number of members in our twinned CLPs have asked how they might make a donation to our “Make Harlow Count” campaign.
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