A Labour MP calls for mandatory criminal record checks for new parliament members to ensure safety and trust.
London: There’s a push for new MPs and peers to undergo criminal record checks. Jo White, a Labour MP, is leading the charge. She believes it’s crucial for parliamentarians to have these checks, especially since they often interact with vulnerable groups.
In her letter to the Commons leader, she pointed out that while candidates can’t run if they’ve been jailed for over a year, there’s no requirement for DBS checks. This seems a bit odd, right? Most jobs that involve working with vulnerable people require them.
White’s earlier motion on this topic gained support from 13 other Labour MPs. She emphasized that having these checks would help maintain public trust and ensure high standards in parliament. It’s all about protecting both the public and the MPs themselves.
Currently, many local councils do DBS checks on their elected officials, but it’s not a standard practice in parliament. This means that prospective MPs can stand for election even if they have a criminal record, as long as they haven’t served a prison term longer than 12 months.
Interestingly, the main vetting process for MPs is done by political parties, which have their own rules. This has led to some controversies, like the case of MP James McMurdock, who had a past conviction for assault but didn’t disclose it publicly.
With these proposed changes, new MPs might soon have to fully reveal their criminal history. It’s a step towards ensuring that those in power are held to a higher standard.
