Ex-MPs use parliament access passes over 2,500 times in a year

324 former United Kingdom (UK) MPs were reported to have been using category X passes for frequent access to the Houses of Parliament from July 2018 to June 2019. Among them are incumbent professional lobbyists, strategic consultants and a columnist. Category X passes grant the bearer continued access to the Houses of Parliament after they step down, along with parliament’s subsidised restaurants and bars.

According to Phil Woolas, the deputy leader of the Commons at the time the passes were issued, the grace and favour passes were introduced to provide convenience for former MPs to maintain their social contacts. While it was understood that using the passes for lobbying was forbidden, the recently reported scale of returns, and the positions assumed by the returnees, have revealed the vulnerability of the system to political abuse.

The issue again brings us to the debate over the extent in which former government officials are allowed to utilise their connections from previous public services for private interests. An area that warrants further attention is the procedural legitimacy and transparency in any form of revolving door policies and regulations.

This report highlights the challenges around the issue of the revolving door, which is included in the responsible lobbying framework as an issue companies need to manage through policies and processes such as cooling-off periods.

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