how the deal was sealed with Patrick Mercer
Canada Goose online For a fee of 2,000 a month, Patrick Mercer, a popular figure in the House of Commons, would push the Government to allow the rogue Fijian regime to rejoin the Commonwealth. Canada Goose online
The smartly dressed lobbyist Mr Mercer thought canada goose outlet edmonton he was meeting said the parliamentary campaign was being funded by a group of anonymous businesses that wished to profit from Fiji return to the international fold.
cheap canada goose uk Unknown to the MP, the was an undercover reporter investigating how Parliamentarians are prepared to influence the political process for paying clients. cheap canada goose uk
Canada Goose Coats On Sale It canada goose factory outlet toronto location is almost 20 years since the for questions canada goose uk scandal rocked Parliament and became a symbol of Tory sleaze, but there are still persistent allegations that some Parliamentarians are willing to break the rules. Canada Goose Coats On Sale
buy canada goose jacket cheap Undercover reporters from The Telegraph and the BBC Panorama approached MPs and peers who had been suspected of using their buy canada goose uk position in the Commons and Lords to advance their clients interests. During a series of meetings with Mr Mercer, it appeared that the allegations were well founded. buy canada goose jacket cheap
At an early meeting, the former shadow minister set out what he could offer. canada goose sale uk should be rewarded for the advice that I give to yourselves and/or directly to the government of Fiji, the MP said.
A range of mechanisms are available to MPs wishing to raise concerns in the Commons. They can set up an all party parliamentary group (APPG) to facilitate debate and publish reports, table motions to highlight issues and ask questions of ministers.
buy canada goose jacket During the meetings, Mr Mercer agreed to implement all three. However, there was a problem of which he was all too well aware: strict rules ban paid advocacy specifically to prevent a cash for lobbying scandal. buy canada goose jacket
Nonetheless, Mr Mercer was keen to proceed as agreed to set up and chair an APPG for Fiji on behalf of the lobbyists and suggested that publicly he would have to demonstrate a newfound interest canada goose outlet authentic in the Pacific islands.
He said to the bogus lobbyist: the way [the clients] raise their problems and difficulties in Parliament, as the chairman of the APPG for Fiji this is something that interests me, in which I involved.
Canada Goose Parka Mr Mercer stressed canada goose parka outlet that officially, far as the consultancy is concerned, that happens outside of parliamentary hours Canada Goose Parka
Canada Goose sale He added: I leave my parliamentary coat hanging outside. Canada Goose sale
I come to consult you, or, sorry, when you come to consult, sorry, when I come for you to consult me. However that manifests itself, that will never take place on parliamentary property.
understand that, said the canada goose outlet uk reporter.
Mr Mercer added: canada goose jacket outlet uk must make sure that our client is completely clear that they are talking to a private individual.
The Conservative MP began reading his contract which specified that his work involved Fiji, which Mr Mercer wanted to remove from the official paperwork.
uk canada goose The bogus lobbyist asked Mr Mercer: couldn work out why you wanted the word canada goose outlet in uk ‘Fiji https://www.canadagoosejacketonlines.ca struck out [of the contract]? uk canada goose
because right, canada goose outlet uk sale I might be being oversensitive, the MP replied.
Mr Mercer suggested he describe himself as a for the lobbying firm, to apparently obscure the link to Fiji.
canada goose factory sale You paying me 2,000 a month, if you want to talk to me about defence issues, security issues, policing issues, outside of Fiji, I your consultant. canada goose factory sale
The Conservative MP agreed to sign the contract and conversation returned to the job at hand lobbying Parliament over Fiji. mentioned briefly the EDM [early day motion], it just that I got to show the client that something up and running, said the undercover reporter as he passed the MP a document showing proposed wording for the motion.
canada goose store It read: House recognises that the government of Fiji is making all reasonable efforts to restore democracy and feels that in the light of the ongoing hardship being canada goose parka uk endured by its businesses there is no justification for Fiji continued suspension from the Commonwealth and therefore urges this Government to arrange a ministerial visit in order to help prepare for and assist its readmission canada goose store
we get that in before the recess [the parliamentary Easter break]? asked the canada goose outlet florida reporter.
Canada Goose Jackets course we can, replied Mr Mercer. get that sorted out and we start getting that signed up. Canada Goose Jackets
cheap Canada Goose The EDM appeared on the parliamentary website the canada goose outlet following week with almost the same wording as canada goose outlet toronto location the motion drafted by the reporter. It has since been signed by four MPs. There is no suggestion the MPs who signed the motion have done anything wrong. cheap Canada Goose
After the Easter recess, Mr Mercer met the reporter in the Marriott hotel across the river canada goose outlet in usa from Parliament. The discussion turned again to the EDM. The reporter said the client was pleased with the motion and that he was earning your money, which by the way will canada goose parka outlet uk go through today
canada goose Mr Mercer responded by giving a up sign. The following day, the MP was paid 2,000 by the fake communications company. It was the first of two canada goose outlet store quebec instalments he would be canada goose outlet england paid during the undercover investigation. canada goose
canada goose uk outlet The MP told the lobbyist he was making progress establishing the APPG. Mr Mercer said it would not be a problem attracting members. There were freeloaders that would like to go to Fiji canada goose uk outlet
is extremely attractive, said Mr Mercer. mean who doesn want a trip to Fiji, who doesn want a trip to the South Seas.