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Bell's bid to join standards committee blocked

Sunday, November 30, 1997 Published at 11:45 GMT

Bell's bid to join standards committee blocked
The Independent MP for Tatton, Martin Bell, says he will continue to "wait in the wings" after a motion to appoint him to the Commons Select Committee on Standards and Privileges was blocked in the House.

Tory former Cabinet minister Douglas Hogg shouted "Object!" when the motion to appoint Mr Bell, the MP for Tatton, to the committee - which investigated the cash-for-questions affair - came up for approval by MPs without a vote on Thursday night.

If it is blocked repeatedly, the Government may be forced to provide time for a debate.

Mr Hogg stressed in a point of order that he had nothing against Mr Bell but he wanted to promote a debate on the committee's procedures.

Mr Bell was set to join the influential committee following the resignation of Tory ex-minister Ann Widdecombe who, with fellow Tory Quentin Davies, refused to support the committee's report condemning the former Tatton Tory MP, Neil Hamilton, over the cash-for-questions affair.

The two MPs believed the committee should have called Mr Hamilton's chief accuser, Harrods chief Mohamed Al Fayed, to give evidence.

Mr Hogg said in his point of order: "I have absolutely no objection to Martin Bell sitting on the Committee of Standards and Privileges, but I do feel the House should have a further opportunity to discuss the procedures that the committee adopts with regard to Members who are charged with some form of misconduct."

"I believe that previous cases have shown that there is a denial of natural justice."

Mr Bell said later that Mr Hogg had left him a message to the same effect.

"I have no problem with that. He made it clear it's nothing personal, and I appreciate that," said Mr Bell.

The former BBC war correspondent suggested he still wanted to sit on the committee.

"I appreciated the invitation to serve on the committee very much and if it goes through, I look forward to serving."

"This is something procedural, not substantial, and since it is nothing personal my feeling is just to back off and see what happens. I don't see a problem. I will just wait in the wings."

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