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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems call police over peers | Lib Dems call police over peers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats are making a complaint to the police over claims that four Labour peers were ready to take cash to change legislation. | The Liberal Democrats are making a complaint to the police over claims that four Labour peers were ready to take cash to change legislation. |
| Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne will write to the Metropolitan Police over the claims, which arose following a Sunday Times investigation. | Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne will write to the Metropolitan Police over the claims, which arose following a Sunday Times investigation. |
| All four peers, who spoke to undercover reporters, have denied any wrongdoing. | All four peers, who spoke to undercover reporters, have denied any wrongdoing. |
| The leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, has spoken to them and is to meet with the four later. | The leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, has spoken to them and is to meet with the four later. |
| The Sunday Times claims the peers offered to help make amendments to legislation in return for up to £120,000. | The Sunday Times claims the peers offered to help make amendments to legislation in return for up to £120,000. |
| The former energy minister Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with the reporter, but said 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 said that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie". |
| Lord Moonie, a former defence minister, acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said he had not done anything "outside the rules". | Lord Moonie, a former defence minister, acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said he had not done anything "outside the rules". |
| The third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, said two people approached him and suggested paying him £5,000 to £10,000 a month as an adviser, but that he never said he would accept, no contract was signed and no money changed hands. | The third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, said two people approached him and suggested paying him £5,000 to £10,000 a month as an adviser, but that he never said he would accept, no contract was signed and no money changed hands. |
| Former Labour whip Lord Snape issued a statement saying he had made it clear he was unable to "initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company". | Former Labour whip Lord Snape issued a statement saying he had made it clear he was unable to "initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company". |
| Rules examination | Rules examination |
| Lady Royall said she would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour". | Lady Royall said she would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour". |
| In addition to her own meeting with the men, she has asked the Lords Committee for Privileges to investigate. | In addition to her own meeting with the men, she has asked the Lords Committee for Privileges to investigate. |
| Its members include former lord chancellor Lord Irvine of Lairg and Baroness Manningham-Buller, former director of MI5. | Its members include former lord chancellor Lord Irvine of Lairg and Baroness Manningham-Buller, former director of MI5. |
| BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Lady Royall's decision is an astute move, as it means opposition parties will not find it as easy to capitalise on Labour's embarrassment by filing complaints to the committee themselves. Our politics must be clean and seen to be clean in both the Commons and the Lords Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrats Q&A: Peers cash claims | BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said Lady Royall's decision is an astute move, as it means opposition parties will not find it as easy to capitalise on Labour's embarrassment by filing complaints to the committee themselves. Our politics must be clean and seen to be clean in both the Commons and the Lords Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrats Q&A: Peers cash claims |
| But there have also been calls for a wider look at the rules, which currently allow peers to be paid as consultants, as long as they do not take money for exercising parliamentary influence, our correspondent added. | But there have also been calls for a wider look at the rules, which currently allow peers to be paid as consultants, as long as they do not take money for exercising parliamentary influence, our correspondent added. |
| Two separate parliamentary inquiries are also expected to look at the issues surrounding the four peers. | Two separate parliamentary inquiries are also expected to look at the issues surrounding the four peers. |
| If the peers are found guilty of having broken the rules, they could be required to apologise on the floor of the Lords, but cannot be expelled from parliament or stripped of their titles. | If the peers are found guilty of having broken the rules, they could be required to apologise on the floor of the Lords, but cannot be expelled from parliament or stripped of their titles. |
| 'Shocking' allegations | 'Shocking' allegations |
| Mr Huhne said procedures in the Lords should be tightened to match those in the Commons, including the power to suspend or expel misbehaving members. | Mr Huhne said procedures in the Lords should be tightened to match those in the Commons, including the power to suspend or expel misbehaving members. |
| Conservative leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said the allegations were "shocking". | Conservative leader in the Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said the allegations were "shocking". |
| Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said he would await the outcome of the House of Lords investigation to see whether it was "an area" the watchdog needed to look at further. | Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said he would await the outcome of the House of Lords investigation to see whether it was "an area" the watchdog needed to look at further. |
| The Sunday Times said its reporters had posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client, who was setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanted an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill. | The Sunday Times said its reporters had posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client, who was setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanted an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill. |