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| Police decide against peers probe | Police decide against peers probe |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The police will not investigate allegations against four members of the House of Lords accused of being willing to change laws in exchange for cash. | |
| The Lib Dems referred the matter to police after newspaper allegations raised questions about the conduct of four Labour peers earlier this month. | The Lib Dems referred the matter to police after newspaper allegations raised questions about the conduct of four Labour peers earlier this month. |
| But after consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police has decided against an inquiry. | But after consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service, the Metropolitan Police has decided against an inquiry. |
| A Lords committee is looking into the allegations against the four men. | |
| The Sunday Times reported that the four peers - Lord Truscott, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, Lord Moonie and Lord Snape - had discussed being paid for amending laws in Parliament in a series of meetings with journalists posing as lobbyists. | |
| The four denied the allegations which would have been a clear breach of parliamentary rules - which state peers should not seek to influence legislation in return for money. | |
| The application of the criminal law to members of the House of Lords in the circumstances that have arisen here is far from clear Met statement | |
| Over the past few weeks, the police have been examining material relating to the case, particularly the allegations against Lord Truscott - a former energy minister and Lord Taylor of Blackburn, who has been a peer for more than 30 years. | |
| The Sunday Times released details of conversations the two men had with their reporters in which they discussed what help they might give them and how parliamentary procedure worked. | |
| In a statement, the Met said it had looked at whether it could mount a criminal investigation into the possible offences of bribery and misconduct in public office. | |
| 'Difficulties' | |
| It said its decision not to proceed was taken after considering the prospects for obtaining evidence and whether an inquiry constituted the best use of police resources. | |
| "The application of the criminal law to members of the House of Lords in the circumstances that have arisen here is far from clear," it said. | |
| "In addition, there are very clear difficulties in gathering and adducing evidence in these circumstances in the context of parliamentary privilege." | |
| In reaching the decision, the Met said it had taken into the account the fact the Lords would be mounting a "robust" investigation into the peers' conduct. | |
| Baroness Royall, Labour leader in the Lords, has vowed to get to the bottom of what she says are "very serious" allegations. | |
| Opposition parties have called for far tougher sanctions against peers who flout the rules, including their suspension and ultimate expulsion from the House. | |
| The Lib Dems said the decision not to conduct an inquiry was "disappointing". | |
| At the moment, unlike in the Commons, a peer can only be named and shamed on the floor of the House if they break the rules. | |
| The decision not to conduct an inquiry was taken by Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who led the inquiry into the cash-for-peerages allegations in 2006 and 2007. |