Stonehouse, in gaol, still a paid M.P.

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 8

Stonehouse, in gaol, still a paid M.P.

NZPA-Reuter London On his first full day as a convict, the former Government Minister, John Stonehouse, kept his former colleagues guessing about his intentions on resigning from Parliament.

The disgraced, 51-year-old politician settled in on Saturday at London’s Wormwood Scrubs Prison to face a seven-year sentence imposed on Friday at the end of a 68-day trial. He was found guilty on 18 charges dealing with his plot to salt away the proceeds of large-scale fraud and begin a new life under a false name in Australia.

Despite promises that he would resign from the House of Commons if convicted, no word emerged from his cell that he was planning any such step. Parliament can force the expulsion of any member convicted of felony. But only on Friday Parliament rose for the summer recess, and would not be able to deal with Stonehouse until October.

If Stonehouse lodged an appeal, it could take even longer to force the expulsion through.

( Stonehouse theoretically I still holds the seat of Walsall North in the Midlands, and until formally expelled he can continue to draw his House of Commons salary. Mr Bruce George. Labour M.P. for neighbouring Walsall South, who has been “nursing” Mr Stonehouse’s constituency since his initial disappearance, said: "The public will say it is incredible that even at this stage, having been convicted of theft and fraud, he still does not have to resign. "Those who thought that the Stonehouse saga had come to an end will be disappointed to know that it could run until the late autumn, because that is the first time Parliament will have the chance of expelling him. “He promised to resign if j found guilty. He should do! so immediately. “It is incomprehensible; that he should be allowed to: stay on drawing his salary, | and possibly a secretarial allowance, after all he has! lone.” Stonehouse has talked of resigning, but if he decides tot to quit, and to challenge the convictions or sentence

he could remain an M.P. even longer than the northern autumn. The M.P.’s first full dav in Wormwooc Scrubs began with the most humiliating aspect of prison life — emptying the slop bucket. For the former Post-master-General the good life of luxury hotels a country home, and a London pent ■ house have been exchanged for a prison cell — possibly shared with another convict —and a prison number. With remission for good conduct, he could he free in just over four vears