Labour Peers change laws for cash?
Discussion
This caught my eye on the BBC News this morning, but not in the usual way.
As one of the presenters held a newspaper up to the camera, with a big headline alleging Labour Peers accepted cash for amendments, she spoke about something occupying a small column to one side, about women losing jobs in the recession. Nice work beeb.
After cash for honours, here we go again.
Labour Lords and 'laws for cash' accusations
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...
Labour peers face serious allegations (yesterday)
http://www.newscred.com/article/show/title/labour-...
Labour peers accused of naming their price to change laws
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/politics/Labo...
As one of the presenters held a newspaper up to the camera, with a big headline alleging Labour Peers accepted cash for amendments, she spoke about something occupying a small column to one side, about women losing jobs in the recession. Nice work beeb.
After cash for honours, here we go again.
Labour Lords and 'laws for cash' accusations
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...
Labour peers face serious allegations (yesterday)
http://www.newscred.com/article/show/title/labour-...
Labour peers accused of naming their price to change laws
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/politics/Labo...
Asterix said:
chris watton said:
It`s on the Andrew marr show right now...
So, it will be commented on as nothing unusual therefore the dim public shouldn't care?It seems that Andrew Marr wanted to get that out of the way for his favourite subject, Scotland and Robert Burns day ..
Edited by chris watton on Sunday 25th January 09:22
This thread is tripe. Whats wrong, theirs no wrong doing they are LABOUR peers. This is not important we are doing everything possible for families and businesses to get through the Newlabour recession....... I mean recession caused by the banks and America and everyone else except me.
Gordon.
Gordon.
The Times said:
Our reporters posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client who was setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanted to secure an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill. We selected 10 Lords who already had a number of paid consultancies. The three Conservative peers did not return our calls and a Liberal Democrat and an Ulster Unionist both declined to help after meeting the undercover reporters.
However, four of the five Labour peers were willing to help to amend the bill in return for retainers. Some were more forthright than others.
Taylor, a former BAE consultant, said he would not table the amendment himself but offered to conduct a “behind the scenes” campaign to persuade ministers and officials. After agreeing a one-year retainer for £120,000, he said he would discuss the amendment with Yvette Cooper, chief secretary to the Treasury, and talk to officials drafting the bill.
Truscott, his Labour colleague, was also keen to help “behind the scenes” — for a fee of up to £72,000: “I can work with you . . . identifying people and following it . . . meeting people, talking to people to facilitate the amendment and making sure the thing is granted.”
He said he would identify and talk to people who could be persuaded to change the legislation. He offered to contact MPs, peers, civil servants and John Healey, the minister in charge of the legislation.
Moonie offered to help for a fee of £30,000 a year and Snape indicated that he would charge £24,000.
This needs special mention i think.........However, four of the five Labour peers were willing to help to amend the bill in return for retainers. Some were more forthright than others.
Taylor, a former BAE consultant, said he would not table the amendment himself but offered to conduct a “behind the scenes” campaign to persuade ministers and officials. After agreeing a one-year retainer for £120,000, he said he would discuss the amendment with Yvette Cooper, chief secretary to the Treasury, and talk to officials drafting the bill.
Truscott, his Labour colleague, was also keen to help “behind the scenes” — for a fee of up to £72,000: “I can work with you . . . identifying people and following it . . . meeting people, talking to people to facilitate the amendment and making sure the thing is granted.”
He said he would identify and talk to people who could be persuaded to change the legislation. He offered to contact MPs, peers, civil servants and John Healey, the minister in charge of the legislation.
Moonie offered to help for a fee of £30,000 a year and Snape indicated that he would charge £24,000.
The Times said:
By contrast Lord Rogan, the Ulster Unionist peer, said: “If your direct proposal is as stark as for me . . . to help to put down an amendment, that’s a non-runner. A, it’s not right and b, my personal integrity wouldn’t let me do it.”
Gordon Brown said:
This thread is tripe. Whats wrong, theirs no wrong doing they are LABOUR peers. This is not important we are doing everything possible for families and businesses to get through the Newlabour recession....... I mean recession caused by the banks and America and everyone else except me.
Gordon.
Gordon.
Swilly said:
This needs special mention i think.........
One of the many problems with Labour MPs and peers is that very few of them know what personal integrity is, let alone have any. At least the Tories had the good grace to resign when found out, this lot however......The Times said:
By contrast Lord Rogan, the Ulster Unionist peer, said: “If your direct proposal is as stark as for me . . . to help to put down an amendment, that’s a non-runner. A, it’s not right and b, my personal integrity wouldn’t let me do it.”
More from the BBC said:
The former energy minister Lord Truscott did admit to having had "discussions" with the reporter, but told the BBC that "to suggest I would offer to put down amendments for money is a lie".
Lord Moonie, a former defence minister, told the BBC that he had been suspicious of the people who had approached him.
He acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said: "I am not aware of having offered to do anything for these people that was outside the rules."
He went on to say that any arrangement would have been based on a written contract and would have involved advising them on how to get amendments to legislation - but he would have been acting strictly as an adviser and consultant.
A third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, told Sky News that he had done nothing wrong.
"I have never, never in my career in the Lords or in local government, done anything that I am ashamed of in any way," he said.
Former Labour whip Lord Snape indicated he could help amend a bill for a fee of up to £24,000 a year, the newspaper said.
The paper said Lord Snape issued a statement "saying that he had made it clear to the reporters that he was unable to 'initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company'.
"However, he said he did think the reporters' proposed exemption might be 'beneficial' and undertook to 'investigate' further," the paper said.
Weasel words. "I have done nothing wrong" means "I have been careful to maximise my earning potential available through my unelected and privileged position whilst not actually breaking any laws".Lord Moonie, a former defence minister, told the BBC that he had been suspicious of the people who had approached him.
He acknowledged discussing a fee of £30,000 with the undercover reporters but said: "I am not aware of having offered to do anything for these people that was outside the rules."
He went on to say that any arrangement would have been based on a written contract and would have involved advising them on how to get amendments to legislation - but he would have been acting strictly as an adviser and consultant.
A third peer, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, told Sky News that he had done nothing wrong.
"I have never, never in my career in the Lords or in local government, done anything that I am ashamed of in any way," he said.
Former Labour whip Lord Snape indicated he could help amend a bill for a fee of up to £24,000 a year, the newspaper said.
The paper said Lord Snape issued a statement "saying that he had made it clear to the reporters that he was unable to 'initiate or amend any legislation on behalf of an individual or a company'.
"However, he said he did think the reporters' proposed exemption might be 'beneficial' and undertook to 'investigate' further," the paper said.
Really as despicable as a politician gets.
motco said:
It reminds me of the dying days of the Major administration with Tim Smith and the Hamilton bloke taking brown envelopes stuffed with cash to ask questions in the house. Oh how the mighty are fallen...
There's a world of difference between asking questions and getting laws changed..Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff