MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Four Lords involved in alleged cash-for-influence row

Britain's Leader of the Lords has pledged to toughen up anti-sleaze rules after four peers were engulfed in a cash-for-influence row. Baroness Royall launched two parliamentary inquiries in the wake of “deeply shocking” allegations that Labour members were ready to change legislation in return for money.

Lord Truscott, Lord Moonie, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Snape face the possibility of a police probe after the Liberal Democrats filed a complaint with Scotland Yard. They are accused of entering into negotiations with Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists for a foreign firm, with fees of up to £120,000 floated for help in tabling amendments. All four deny any wrongdoing. However, the Sunday Times has turned up the heat by releasing tape recordings of conversations. In one of the exchanges, Lord Taylor can be heard telling the reporters: "You've got to whet my appetite to get me on board." Answering an urgent question on the issue in the Upper House, Lady Royall said the Lords sub-committee on interests had already started investigating the claims. "I'm deeply concerned about these allegations," she told peers. "This is a concern that is shared right across the House and beyond." She also revealed she had asked the chairman of the Privileges Committee, Lord Brabazon of Tara, to carry out a wider review of punishments. Some of the peers at the centre of the row took the opportunity of Lady Royall's statement to protest their innocence. Lord Snape, a former government whip, told peers: "As one of those involved in this incident, may I first of all apologise to your Lordships for bringing this House, if I have done so, into disrepute. "But may I say that these are allegations in a Sunday newspaper. And may I appeal to noble Lords in all parts of the House to allow me the opportunity to refute those allegations before your Lordships' House and elsewhere?" Lord Taylor added: "May I again, as one of the people that have been named in this article and alleged error, if I have done anything that has brought this House into disrepute, I most humbly apologise. But, as the Leader has already said, there is a committee of inquiry going to take place. I would love to give evidence before that committee of inquiry".