Articles | Lords Leader quizzed amid probe

Lords Leader quizzed amid probe

Published: Thursday, 29 January 2009, 12:48PM

Lords Leader Baroness Royall has met police probing claims that Labour peers were prepared to accept payment to influence legislation.

New Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson revealed the meeting as Scotland Yard considers a request by the Liberal Democrats for a criminal investigation into the cash-for-influence affair.

Lord Truscott, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, Lord Snape and Lord Moonie are accused of entering into negotiations, involving fees of up to £120,000, with Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists for a foreign firm.

All four strenuously deny any wrongdoing.

Baroness Royall confirmed the meeting in a statement to the House, in which she said the Parliamentary inquiry would not be held up while the police consider whether to act.

She said: "On Monday the Metropolitan Police Service received a request to consider investigating whether an offence had been committed by certain members of the House.

"The police have considered this request and they have now decided to review the relevant material in this matter to assist them in deciding whether it would be appropriate to carry out an investigation.

"I have met the Metropolitan Police on this matter and they have informed me of their decision.

"I should stress that the police are not investigating this matter at this stage. The police are reviewing the material in relation to the allegations to decide whether such an investigation would be appropriate."

She went on: "While the police are carrying out this review, it remains appropriate for the Sub-Committee on Lords' Interests to continue with its inquiry."

At the end of Lady Royall's statement, which lasted just under two minutes, Tory peers' leader Lord Strathclyde rose to his feet as though to speak, but sat down without complaint when Labour's chief whip Lord Bassam of Brighton stood up and moved on to the next business.