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Tougher regulation call for peers Tougher regulation call for peers
(about 7 hours later)
Pressure is growing for reform of the House of Lords to impose tougher rules on peers who do paid consultancy work. Pressure is growing for the House of Lords to impose tougher rules on peers who do paid consultancy work.
Tony Wright, chairman of the Commons Public Administration Committee, says public faith in the political process would be diminished without change. Tony Wright, chairman of the Commons public administration committee, said faith in the political process would be diminished without reform.
Lady Royall, the Leader of the House of Lords, has said she believes tougher sanctions are now necessary. House of Lords leader Lady Royall has said tougher sanctions are needed.
On Monday, two of the Labour peers at the centre of claims defended themselves in the House of Lords. On Monday, two of the Labour peers at the centre of claims they offered to help amend laws for up to £120,000 defended themselves in the Lords.
Mr Wright, said he believed Lords reform was vital and action needed to be taken within months, not years. The four peers named in a Sunday Times story are former energy minister Lord Truscott; former defence minister Lord Moonie; Lord Taylor of Blackburn; and former Labour whip Lord Snape - all of whom deny any wrongdoing.
He believed there must be an "agreed framework" governing the relationship between lobbyists, Peers and MPs. 'Agreed framework'
"Unless the public can see who is lobbying whom about what, this kind of story will influence people's perceptions of lobbyists and politicians across the board and for the worse," he said. Mr Wright said he believed Lords reform was vital and needed to happen within months, not years.
'Rigorous inquiry' There had to be an "agreed framework" governing the relationship between lobbyists, peers and MPs.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said with reports claiming paid consultancy work is carried out by roughly one in five of the 743 members of the House of Lords, the row was likely to have profound effects on how it operates in future. "Unless the public can see who is lobbying whom about what, this kind of story will influence people's perceptions of lobbyists and politicians across the board and for the worse," Mr Wright said.
On Monday, in the Lords, Lord Snape stood up to "refute" the Sunday Times claims while Lord Taylor of Blackburn apologised but said he felt he had followed the rules. It's important we get something in position to say we have serious sanctions to prevent members of the House of Lords from acting improperly Lord Goodhart, Lib Dems
A recording was later released of Lord Taylor saying firms paid him up to £100,000 a year. BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said, with reports claiming paid consultancy work is carried out by roughly one in five of the 743 members of the House of Lords, the row was likely to have profound effects on how it operated in future.
Earlier, Lords leader Lady Royall said a "rigorous" inquiry had already begun. Liberal Democrat Lord Goodhart, a former member of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What is permissible is giving advice on political issues."
In a recording of a conversation with Lord Taylor, published on the Sunday Times website, Lord Taylor tells an undercover reporter: "Some companies that I work with would pay me £100,000 a year." But the allegations were that some peers were "going beyond advice and giving assistance".
Lord Goodhart added: "For the future it's important we get something in position to say we have serious sanctions to prevent members of the House of Lords from acting improperly."
On Monday in the Lords, Lord Snape stood up to "refute" the Sunday Times claims, while Lord Taylor of Blackburn apologised but said he felt he had followed the rules.
A recording was later released on the newspaper's website of Lord Taylor saying firms paid him up to £100,000 a year.
He tells an undercover reporter: "Some companies that I work with would pay me £100,000 a year."
'Rigorous'
When the reporter questions it, he adds: "That's cheap for what I do for them. And other companies would pay me £25,000."When the reporter questions it, he adds: "That's cheap for what I do for them. And other companies would pay me £25,000."
The newspaper alleges four Labour peers had offered to help make amendments for up to £120,000 - they have denied any wrongdoing. Lords leader Lady Royall said a "rigorous" inquiry had already begun.
'Tougher sanctions' In a statement she called the claims "deeply shocking", but pointed out that they were only allegations at this stage but said the claims had been "damaging not just to this House but to Parliament and politics".
In a statement to the House of Lords, Lady Royall called the claims "deeply shocking". She pointed out that they were only allegations at this stage but said the claims had been "damaging not just to this House but to Parliament and politics". She said the matter had been referred to the Lords Interests sub-committee, which had already met, and investigations were under way.
She said the matter had been referred to the Lords Interests sub committee, which had already met and investigations were underway. Lady Royall said she believed "tougher sanctions" were needed to deal with peers who broke the rules - currently they cannot be suspended or expelled - and she had written to the chairman of the committee of privileges to ask him to review the matter.
And she said she believed "tougher sanctions" were needed to deal with peers who broke the rules - currently they cannot be suspended or expelled - and she had written to the chairman of the committee of privileges to ask him to review the matter.
If the peers were 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 were 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.
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.