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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Lords to vote on suspending peers | Lords to vote on suspending peers |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The House of Lords is set to vote on whether two Labour peers should be banned for six months for misconduct. | The House of Lords is set to vote on whether two Labour peers should be banned for six months for misconduct. |
| A committee has recommended suspending Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor of Blackburn after finding them willing to change laws in exchange for cash. | A committee has recommended suspending Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor of Blackburn after finding them willing to change laws in exchange for cash. |
| The two men denied the allegations made by the Sunday Times. Lord Truscott, who has resigned from the Labour Party, arguing he had been made a scapegoat. | The two men denied the allegations made by the Sunday Times. Lord Truscott, who has resigned from the Labour Party, arguing he had been made a scapegoat. |
| No peers have been suspended from the House of Lords since the 17th Century. | No peers have been suspended from the House of Lords since the 17th Century. |
| 'Terrible' | 'Terrible' |
| The House of Lords are debating a report by its Privileges Committee on the conduct of the two men and a separate report on whether the House has the authority to suspend both men. | The House of Lords are debating a report by its Privileges Committee on the conduct of the two men and a separate report on whether the House has the authority to suspend both men. |
| If these reports are approved, the House will then vote on whether to exclude the two men for six months. | If these reports are approved, the House will then vote on whether to exclude the two men for six months. |
| This episode has done serious damage to the reputation of the House Lord Brabazon of Tara | This episode has done serious damage to the reputation of the House Lord Brabazon of Tara |
| The Committee recommended this sanction and said it should take effect immediately. | The Committee recommended this sanction and said it should take effect immediately. |
| The debate will also cover the actions of two other Labour peers, Lord Snape and Lord Moonie, implicated by the Sunday Times in its investigation. | |
| The two were ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the committee but invited to apologise for "inappropriate attitudes" brought to light during the investigation. | The two were ultimately cleared of wrongdoing by the committee but invited to apologise for "inappropriate attitudes" brought to light during the investigation. |
| Urging fellow peers to suspend Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor, Lord Brabazon of Tara, chairman of Lords Committees, said an internal investigation had shown that they had "failed to act on their personal honour". | Urging fellow peers to suspend Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor, Lord Brabazon of Tara, chairman of Lords Committees, said an internal investigation had shown that they had "failed to act on their personal honour". |
| "This episode has done serious damage to the reputation of the House," he said. | "This episode has done serious damage to the reputation of the House," he said. |
| Posing as lobbyists | Posing as lobbyists |
| The House had the "inherent" power to discipline its members and must show that it was prepared to take action, he added: "We have to get our house in order." | The House had the "inherent" power to discipline its members and must show that it was prepared to take action, he added: "We have to get our house in order." |
| The Sunday Times alleged the two peers were prepared to change proposed legislation in return for money - breaching parliamentary rules which state that peers should not seek to influence legislation in return for financial inducement. | The Sunday Times alleged the two peers were prepared to change proposed legislation in return for money - breaching parliamentary rules which state that peers should not seek to influence legislation in return for financial inducement. |
| The reporters were posing as lobbyists for a foreign retail firm which, they claimed, wanted to set up stores in the UK and get an exemption from business rates. | The reporters were posing as lobbyists for a foreign retail firm which, they claimed, wanted to set up stores in the UK and get an exemption from business rates. |
| The peers discussed what help they might give them and how parliamentary procedure worked. | The peers discussed what help they might give them and how parliamentary procedure worked. |
| Neither men actually accepted any money but the Lords committee found they had broken rules governing the behaviour of its members in relation to paid advocacy. | Neither men actually accepted any money but the Lords committee found they had broken rules governing the behaviour of its members in relation to paid advocacy. |
| 'Summary justice' | 'Summary justice' |
| The allegations against the four men were initially investigated by the Lords sub-committee on members' interests. | The allegations against the four men were initially investigated by the Lords sub-committee on members' interests. |
| It concluded that Lord Truscott had broken rules on exercising parliamentary influence in return for money by agreeing to "smooth the way" for lobbyists, make introductions to other peers and ministers and to lobby officials. | It concluded that Lord Truscott had broken rules on exercising parliamentary influence in return for money by agreeing to "smooth the way" for lobbyists, make introductions to other peers and ministers and to lobby officials. |
| The committee found "clear and plentiful" evidence that he "was advertising his power and willingness to influence Parliament in return for a substantial financial inducement". | The committee found "clear and plentiful" evidence that he "was advertising his power and willingness to influence Parliament in return for a substantial financial inducement". |
| Lord Truscott said he followed the rules as they were at the time and had been the victim of "Soviet-style" summary justice. | Lord Truscott said he followed the rules as they were at the time and had been the victim of "Soviet-style" summary justice. |
| Lord Taylor's explanation that he was aware the lobbyists were in fact journalists and he had continued to meet them in order to discover the truth was dismissed as "inherently implausible". | Lord Taylor's explanation that he was aware the lobbyists were in fact journalists and he had continued to meet them in order to discover the truth was dismissed as "inherently implausible". |
| Lord Taylor has been suspended from the Labour Party pending a "full disciplinary investigation". | Lord Taylor has been suspended from the Labour Party pending a "full disciplinary investigation". |
| The "cash for amendments" row is one of a series of recent scandals to have damaged the integrity of Parliament. | The "cash for amendments" row is one of a series of recent scandals to have damaged the integrity of Parliament. |
| The police decided not to mount a criminal investigation into the case earlier this year, citing the difficulty of obtaining evidence. | The police decided not to mount a criminal investigation into the case earlier this year, citing the difficulty of obtaining evidence. |