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| Pressure mounts over peer claims | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are demanding a Lords statement after claims four Labour peers were ready to take cash to change legislation. | |
| The BBC understands Lords leader Lady Royall, who is meeting the four peers, is likely to agree and make a statement to the House of Lords later on Monday. | |
| Gordon Brown said he was "determined to get to the bottom" of the allegations. | |
| The Lib Dems say they are planning to make a complaint to the police over the Sunday Times claims. | |
| The newspaper said peers had offered to help make amendments for up to £120,000. | |
| The prime minister said the allegations were "serious" and "whatever action needs to be taken will be taken". | The prime minister said the allegations were "serious" and "whatever action needs to be taken will be taken". |
| All four peers, who spoke to undercover reporters, have denied any wrongdoing. | All four peers, who spoke to undercover reporters, have denied any wrongdoing. |
| 'Don't pre-judge' | 'Don't pre-judge' |
| Those named in the Sunday Times story are former energy minister Lord Truscott, former defence minister Lord Moonie, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and former Labour whip Lord Snape. | Those named in the Sunday Times story are former energy minister Lord Truscott, former defence minister Lord Moonie, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and former Labour whip Lord Snape. |
| Mr Brown, taking part in a question-and-answer session at the Foreign Press Association in London, said: "It's important that we don't pre-judge these investigations but these are serious allegations and we are determined to get to the bottom of these allegations, and whatever action needs to be taken will be taken." | Mr Brown, taking part in a question-and-answer session at the Foreign Press Association in London, said: "It's important that we don't pre-judge these investigations but these are serious allegations and we are determined to get to the bottom of these allegations, and whatever action needs to be taken will be taken." |
| 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 | 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 |
| Lord Strathclyde, the Tory Leader in the Lords, told the BBC the allegations were "shocking" and said there needed to be an urgent investigation. | |
| And the Lib Dems have tabled a Private Notice Question in the House of Lords: "To ask the Leader of the House what action she proposes to take in consequence of the allegations of misconduct in yesterday's Sunday Times." | |
| The leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, has spoken to the peers and is to meet them later. | The leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, has spoken to the peers and is to meet them later. |
| Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with a reporter, but said that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie". | Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with a reporter, but said that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie". |
| Lord Moonie acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 but said he had not done anything "outside the rules". | Lord Moonie acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 but said he had not done anything "outside the rules". |
| Lord Taylor of Blackburn said two people had 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. | Lord Taylor of Blackburn said two people had 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. |
| 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". | 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, who said she would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour", has asked the Lords Committee for Privileges to investigate. | Lady Royall, who said she would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigour", 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. |
| There have 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. | There have 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 |
| Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is to write to the Metropolitan Police over the claims. | Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne is to write to the Metropolitan Police over the claims. |
| He said procedures in the Lords should be tightened to match those in the Commons, including the power to suspend or expel misbehaving members. | He said procedures in the Lords should be tightened to match those in the Commons, including the power to suspend or expel misbehaving members. |
| 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. |