Duncan Borrowman calls for action in Derek Conway case

12.27.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Sep 2008

Duncan Borrowman, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Old Bexley & Sidcup, has called for a speedy conclusion to the investigations by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner into the employment by ostracised local MP Derek Conway of his son Henry. Mr Borrowman has written to sleaze busting Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker asking him to pursue the issue on his behalf.

Duncan Borrowman says: "It is now nine months since my complaint about the employment of Henry Conway. Journalists asking the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards what is going on are told that the investigation is ongoing and that they do not comment on ongoing investigations. I hope the delay is because the investigation is being exceedingly thorough, but I also hope that the findings can be reported to the Committee on Standards and Privileges as soon as possible, at the very latest by Christmas".

Mr Borrowman's letter to Norman Baker MP says:

Dear Mr Baker,

On 28 January I wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards regarding the employment by Derek Conway, my local MP, of his son Henry.

My complaint was accepted as justifying investigation.

It is now nearly nine months since that complaint, which is considerably longer than it took to investigate the employment by Mr Conway of his other son, Freddie.

I am becoming increasingly concerned that any audit trail and trail of possible evidence will have gone cold.

Please could you try to ascertain for me whether there is any likely further progress in the investigation.

Yours sincerely,

Duncan Borrowman