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BBC NEWS | Politics | Suspension looming for MP Conway Last night on Radio 4’s PM programme we were treated to the spectacle of Ann Morrison, Chair of the local Conservative Party, refusing to answer most questions but saying that Tory MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup Derek Conway was doing the ‘right thing’ by announcing that he was standing down at the next election.

What?

Let us understand exactly what Mr Conway is accused of having done. At a time when the Tories have been merrily demanding the fall of Labour ministers for inaccurately reporting donations for their deputy-leadership campaign - although there is no suggestion that any of these ministers used the money for personal gain, or spent money in a dishonest way - Derek Conway is accused of handing over £13,161 of public money to a son who entirely failed to do anything to justify this. Of course, the police have not as yet investigated this, and the accusation is therefore not legally proven. On the other hand, Derek Conway and the Conservative Party are not denying it.

If an employee of, say, the NHS, or a local councillor, or a policeman were found to have given £13,161 to anyone improperly, they would find themselves immediately suspended and shortly afterwards dismissed. If they had handed over £13,161 to a member of their own family, they would have found themselves in jail shortly after that.

We must understand that the accusation against Derek Conway is completely different from the accusation against Peter Hain. Hain’s alleged ‘crime’ is that money given for the political activities of the Labour party is said to have been used for political activities of the Labour party which are not quite the same as the political activities of the Labour party for which it was given. This is reprehensible, because anyone in public life should be entirely transparent in regard to their finances and donations. But it is a technical violation, and as much an artefact of our tortuous regulations as anything else.

My Conway’s “administrative shortcomings and … misjudgements” (his words) are that he took taxpayer’s money and used it to increase the fortunes of his own family without giving the taxpayer any benefit whatsoever.

This is a clear abuse of his position, one based on the trust of the electorate, and is sleaze on the level of Cash for Questions under the last Tory administration.

What sanction has David Cameron imposed? Initially nothing, then, after twenty-four hours in which it became clear that the Conservative party (ie, his own personal reputation) was being tarnished, he withdrew the whip, in other words, saying “this man is no longer a Conservative”. But, Mr Cameron, this man was a Conservative when he was doing the deed. It is now that he is contrite and repentant that he is no longer a Conservative. And yet, David Cameron refused to rule out Mr Conway regaining the whip at a later stage.

Mr Conway has said that he will not stand at the next election. This would be like a shop-assistant caught with their fingers in the till saying “I’m sorry I was caught, and I’ll look at getting another job in a couple of years.” But his majority was in any case only 3,345 - far too slim a majority to defend when questions of sleaze are on the table. Aged 55 now, he will probably by 57 then, so if he stood for that seat again and lost it (as he certainly would), it would probably not be until the age of 62 that he would be able to stand for another seat at a General Election: a little old to be restarting his parliamentary career.

In other words, Derek Conway has promised to do nothing more than bow to the inevitable. He has not “done the right thing” - which in this case would be to resign his seat straight away and trigger a bye-election - and David Cameron has not “done the right thing” by withdrawing the whip. Cameron should have let him keep the whip and instructed him to resign immediately, and then faced the electorate in a bye-election straight away. Of course, the last thing that Cameron wants is a bye-election in Old Bexley and Sidcup, now or ever. All he has done is try to limit the damage to himself, at the very time that he is trying to embarrass Gordon Brown in regard to the far more minor misdoings of Labour politicians.

It is time to clean up politics. Brown does not show much inclination to do so. Cameron postured about it, but has now shown that he has absolutely no interest in moral politics, and is merely engaged in looking for advantage where he can get it.

It is time for the electorate to look elsewhere.

I was delighted last night (Tuesday) to be elected as Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidates Association, to serve two years from 2008 to the end of 2009. The PCA represents Liberal Democrat candidates across the UK’s 660 Westminster parliamentary constituencies, as well as candidates for the Scottish, Welsh and European parliaments.

This is a great honour and a privilege, and I intend to serve with verve and diligence. I am constantly amazed by the talent, integrity and determination of up and coming Lib-Dem candidates. The party has added new parliamentarians at every election for the last fifteen years, and I am confident that this will increase at the next election.

Mind you, this role will not be taking any time away from my efforts in Stratford upon Avon. My aim is to win here at the next general election and serve the constituency with the passion and hard work.

The last twelve months have been my best ever — I was selected as Stratford upon Avon’s parliamentary candidate in February, completed a half-marathon in April, became West Midlands fencing captain in June, reached the UK top 50 for fencing in September, was honoured in a major health service award in November, reached the UK top 40 in December, and have been honoured again with this tremendous vote of confidence in January. I have to say I’m looking forward to what the rest of 2008 brings.