Home Secretary Jack Straw

Corrupt MPs to Face Prison Sentence

MPs who accept illegal bribes could face up to seven years in prison under proposals to be announced next week by the Government.

Home Secretary Jack Straw will confirm that legislation will be brought in to make MPs subject for the first time to the criminal law on bribery.

The Home Office said that, while the Government wanted to act as soon as possible, the busy legislative programme meant it was unlikely that a bill could be tabled before November 1998.

Ministers also want to wait for the report from Lord Nolan's Commission on Standards in Public Life, to be published this summer, before finalising their anti-corruption measures.

Lord Nolan

The bill will close a loophole in the law dating back to the 1689 Bill of Rights which gives MPs immunity from public prosecution. Its measures are also expected to be extended to judges and local councillors.

The move follows Tony Blair's election campaign pledge to "clean up" politics in the wake of the cash-for-questions affair.