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Sleaze claims against Labour peers must be probed, says Brown
Nicholas Cecil26 Jan 2009
Sleaze allegations against four Labour peers are “very serious” and need to be investigated, Gordon Brown said today.
The Prime Minister vowed to take “whatever action” necessary to deal with the claims that peers were prepared to take money to get legislation changed.
But new Tory Party chairman Eric Pickles accused Mr Brown of “dithering” as the Prime Minister faced pressure to expel the peers from the parliamentary Labour Party.
Former energy minister Lord Truscott, ex-defence minister Lord Moonie, Lord Taylor of Blackburn and former Labour whip Lord Snape deny any wrongdoing.
Mr Pickles said: “If these peers are found to have breached (the rules), they are going to have to apologise to the Lords, which will be a humiliation for them. But I can't see how they could stay on as Labour peers. I do object to people being able to buy votes in Parliament if these allegations are true.”
Baroness Royall, Leader of the House of Lords, was speaking to the four peers today following the claims against them over the weekend. “These are very serious allegations,” said Mr Brown. “It is precisely because of that, that Lady Royall announced yesterday that she would be investigating as a matter of urgency.
“We're determined to get to the bottom of what happened. Whatever action needs to be taken will be taken.”
One peer, crossbencher Baroness Murphy, said if the claims proved true it would be “intolerable” corruption which “stinks, stinks, stinks” in Parliament. Questions were also being asked about Mr Brown giving peerages to key Labour figures, including Peter Mandelson, so they can be ministers in the Lords where they can wield influence while not being accountable to MPs.
Meanwhile, new laws to kick out peers who commit serious crimes from the Lords are set to move a step closer.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw is pushing for such legislation to be included in Labour's manifesto for the next election as part of a major shake-up to make the Upper Chamber wholly or mainly elected.
Mr Straw pledged a year ago to bring forward laws to ban peers from sitting in Parliament if they are convicted of a serious criminal offence, as already happens for MPs, following Lord Black being jailed for six years for fraud.
Today, former Tory Cabinet minister Lord Fowler called on Mr Straw to push through with this promise. He told BBC radio: “I can't quite see why there should be one rule in the Commons and another in the Lords.”
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said that rules in the Lords should be “at least as tough” as for MPs. He was due to write today to the Metropolitan Police calling for it to investigate claims in the Sunday Times the four peers offered to facilitate changes to legislation in return for up to £120,000.
Reader views (5)
Isn't it always so predictable that MP's are not charged for their corrupt actions. If you or I behaved in such a dishonest way we would be hung, drawn and quartered and thrown into jail for sure. One rule for MPs clearly and one rule for others! Animal farm?
- Anon, London, 26/01/2009 17:35
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It seems nothing is illegal in our treasured isle if it makes a lot of dosh - being an MP hiding expenses, being a banker getting tax-payer money and still taking a bonus (not to mention the creative accounts), being a new lord on the make, you name it. All above the law, none of them will get more than a smacked wrist. But Joe Public? Well, he'd get the whole lot thrown at him if he tried to act like an MP or a Lord - our representatives from Planet Greed - or the bankers - the usurers of the universe. Time for them all to get the chop. Take to the streets, Joe, like the French! It's worth being thrown in the slammer, asking for a fairer Britain. Isn't it?
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 26/01/2009 16:42
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If Gordon Brown was half-way decent as a PM he would not be restricted to saying that this must be investigated in such vague terms. I would have expected how, when and by whom it was to be investigated. But Gordon is as usual dithering while he tries to salvage as much party political capital as he can. Even the budget date is now receiving this treatment. The only thing to energise him seems to be his compusive concern about looking fat in cartoons.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 26/01/2009 16:40
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Time for Gormless Gordon to do his Nelson act. Telescope to bad eye "I see no corruption".
- Roger, Surrey, 26/01/2009 16:00
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Cash for peerages. Cash for Bankers. Enoblement for absent minded house loan borrowers. I believed Gordon and Co when they said the Tories were corrupt. But the Tories were a bunch of amateurs when it comes to getting your snout in the trough. I hope plod gets the warrants right for this, and does what they are supposed to do; investigate a potenetial crime; for the benefit of the Country, and not just cover up for their political masters at the Home Office.
Good old Gordon allows ex ministers to get well paid jobs and then lobby parliament to make them even better off while his sisterhood tell us we have to be more equal.(Socially Mobile) They are a joke.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 26/01/2009 11:13
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