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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Police 'should probe Lords case' | Police 'should probe Lords case' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have called for a police inquiry into allegations that four Labour peers were prepared to accept money to change proposed laws. | The Liberal Democrats have called for a police inquiry into allegations that four Labour peers were prepared to accept money to change proposed laws. |
| Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said if the claims, made in the Sunday Times newspaper, were true a criminal offence would have been committed. | Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said if the claims, made in the Sunday Times newspaper, were true a criminal offence would have been committed. |
| The four are said to have offered to amend laws in return for up to £120,000 - claims that they all deny. | The four are said to have offered to amend laws in return for up to £120,000 - claims that they all deny. |
| The Leader of the House of Lords has promised a full investigation. | The Leader of the House of Lords has promised a full investigation. |
| Lady Royall said she had spoken to the men concerned and would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour", while a Lords committee is expected to undertake an inquiry soon. | Lady Royall said she had spoken to the men concerned and would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour", while a Lords committee is expected to undertake an inquiry soon. |
| Unlike MPs, members of the House of Lords who breach the rules on acceptable conduct cannot be suspended, although they can be "named and shamed" on the floor of Parliament. | Unlike MPs, members of the House of Lords who breach the rules on acceptable conduct cannot be suspended, although they can be "named and shamed" on the floor of Parliament. |
| The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are in the political system or outside it Chris Huhne | The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are in the political system or outside it Chris Huhne |
| Mr Huhne said the Lords must "toughen up" its own procedures to make sure allegations such as these did not surface again. | Mr Huhne said the Lords must "toughen up" its own procedures to make sure allegations such as these did not surface again. |
| A precedent was set for police to investigate cases of alleged misconduct in Parliament by a ruling in the 1990s, he added. | A precedent was set for police to investigate cases of alleged misconduct in Parliament by a ruling in the 1990s, he added. |
| "The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are in the political system or outside it," he told the BBC. | "The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are in the political system or outside it," he told the BBC. |
| "We need clean politics and we need to be sure politics is seen to be clean." | "We need clean politics and we need to be sure politics is seen to be clean." |
| The BBC has spoken to two of the peers named by the newspaper while a third has also given his reaction to the allegations. | The BBC has spoken to two of the peers named by the newspaper while a third has also given his reaction to the allegations. |
| The former energy minister Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with the reporter, but told the BBC that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie". | The former energy minister Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with the reporter, but told the BBC that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie". |
| Lord Moonie, a former defence minister, told the BBC that he had been suspicious of the people who had approached him. There are no grey areas - paid advocacy is banned and should remain so Lord StrathclydeShadow leader of the Lords Q&A: Peers cash claimsProfiles of peers | |
| He acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said: "I am not aware of having offered to do anything for these people that was outside the rules." | He acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said: "I am not aware of having offered to do anything for these people that was outside the rules." |
| He went on to say that any arrangement would have been based on a written contract and would have involved advising them on how to get amendments to legislation - but he would have been acting strictly as an adviser and consultant. | He went on to say that any arrangement would have been based on a written contract and would have involved advising them on how to get amendments to legislation - but he would have been acting strictly as an adviser and consultant. |
| A third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, told Sky News that he had done nothing wrong. | A third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, told Sky News that he had done nothing wrong. |
| "I have never, never in my career in the Lords or in local government, done anything that I am ashamed of in any way," he said. | "I have never, never in my career in the Lords or in local government, done anything that I am ashamed of in any way," he said. |
| Former Labour whip Lord Snape indicated he could help amend a bill for a fee of up to £24,000 a year, the newspaper said. | Former Labour whip Lord Snape indicated he could help amend a bill for a fee of up to £24,000 a year, the newspaper said. |
| The paper said Lord Snape issued a statement "saying that he had made it clear to the reporters that he was unable to 'initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company'. | The paper said Lord Snape issued a statement "saying that he had made it clear to the reporters that he was unable to 'initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company'. |
| "However, he said he did think the reporters' proposed exemption might be 'beneficial' and undertook to 'investigate' further," the paper said. | "However, he said he did think the reporters' proposed exemption might be 'beneficial' and undertook to 'investigate' further," the paper said. |
| 'Grim picture' | 'Grim picture' |
| A spokesman for the Committee on Lords' Interests said an investigation would be launched if a complaint was received, which is expected on Monday. | A spokesman for the Committee on Lords' Interests said an investigation would be launched if a complaint was received, which is expected on Monday. |
| It would be the first major inquiry by the committee since it was set up a few months ago. | It would be the first major inquiry by the committee since it was set up a few months ago. |
| Lady Royall told BBC News that she would also continue to pursue her own inquiries by speaking to the four peers concerned more fully. | Lady Royall told BBC News that she would also continue to pursue her own inquiries by speaking to the four peers concerned more fully. |
| Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Lady Royall said she did not feel "comfortable" reading about the allegations, and if they were true, it would be a "very grim picture". | Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Lady Royall said she did not feel "comfortable" reading about the allegations, and if they were true, it would be a "very grim picture". |
| Lord Truscott has denied offering to put down amendments for cash | Lord Truscott has denied offering to put down amendments for cash |
| "Clearly, it looks very serious but I'm concerned everybody's side of the story should be heard. We don't have trial by media in this country," she said. | "Clearly, it looks very serious but I'm concerned everybody's side of the story should be heard. We don't have trial by media in this country," she said. |
| Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke said the Commissioner for Standards had to carry out an independent inquiry. | Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke said the Commissioner for Standards had to carry out an independent inquiry. |
| "If the allegations are true, I'm afraid this one is very serious - to take money to try to alter legislation for the benefit of the people paying you a fee... I think some people would call that corruption," he told Andrew Marr. | "If the allegations are true, I'm afraid this one is very serious - to take money to try to alter legislation for the benefit of the people paying you a fee... I think some people would call that corruption," he told Andrew Marr. |
| Lord Strathclyde, the shadow leader of the Lords, said there should be "a swift investigation". | Lord Strathclyde, the shadow leader of the Lords, said there should be "a swift investigation". |
| "The rules are clear," he said. "There are no grey areas. Paid advocacy is banned and should remain so." | "The rules are clear," he said. "There are no grey areas. Paid advocacy is banned and should remain so." |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said trying to influence Parliamentary legislation was outside the House of Lords code of conduct, but peers not paid a salary can offer general advice to private firms as consultants. | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said trying to influence Parliamentary legislation was outside the House of Lords code of conduct, but peers not paid a salary can offer general advice to private firms as consultants. |
| "That may be where there's a bit of a grey area, where people can quite honestly say 'I haven't broken any rules'," he said. | "That may be where there's a bit of a grey area, where people can quite honestly say 'I haven't broken any rules'," he said. |
| The Sunday Times said its reporters had posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client. | The Sunday Times said its reporters had posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client. |
| This firm was said to be setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanting an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill. | This firm was said to be setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanting an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill. |