Ex-MP Gwynne Keeps Parliament Access Amid Sleaze Probe

0:00On April 6th, a former labor MP named Andrew Gwynn still gets full access to Parliament even though he's under a sleaze investigation. He quit his seat for Gordon and Denton back in January after more than 20 years in the house. Like nearly 500 other XMPs, he holds a security pass that lets him wander the grounds unescorted. Earlier this year, Gwynn stepped down citing health issues worsened by a scandal. Last February, watchdogs launched a probe into WhatsApp messages he sent that were called badly misjudged, leading to his sacking as a health minister, and suspension from labor. He walked away with an exit deal reportedly worth around 1 million pounds, paid until pension age. People are raising eyebrows because these passes come with perks like using subsidized bars and meeting rooms during set hours. The number of former MPs with passes has jumped from 306 in January 2023 to 468, now especially. After last year's election, meanwhile, officials say they scrutinize every application closely and can deny them in certain cases.

1:06But Gwynn's probe is still active even after he left, and the rules let long-serving XMPs like him keep coming back. This setup keeps sparking debate on who really gets to hang around Westminster and why.