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Three peers 'offered to lobby for fake firm' Three peers 'offered to lobby for fake firm'
(35 minutes later)
Three peers have been dragged into the row over political lobbying after being accused of agreeing to carry out parliamentary work for payment.Three peers have been dragged into the row over political lobbying after being accused of agreeing to carry out parliamentary work for payment.
Undercover Sunday Times reporters filmed the men who appear to offer to help a fake solar energy company.Undercover Sunday Times reporters filmed the men who appear to offer to help a fake solar energy company.
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird and Labour's Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Cunningham deny wrongdoing.Ulster Unionist peer Lord Laird and Labour's Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Cunningham deny wrongdoing.
The allegations come after MP Patrick Mercer resigned the Tory whip on Friday amid claims he broke lobbying rules.The allegations come after MP Patrick Mercer resigned the Tory whip on Friday amid claims he broke lobbying rules.
The House of Lords code of conduct says peers cannot engage in "paid advocacy" - using their access to Parliament to make a profit.The House of Lords code of conduct says peers cannot engage in "paid advocacy" - using their access to Parliament to make a profit.
The Sunday Times journalists suggests the peers, who it filmed separately, may have broken those strict rules. The Sunday Times suggests the peers, who it filmed separately, may have broken those strict rules.
'Subject of a scam''Subject of a scam'
The first, Lord Cunningham - a minister under Tony Blair - said he could arrange parties on the terrace of the House of Lords after being asked if this was possible.The first, Lord Cunningham - a minister under Tony Blair - said he could arrange parties on the terrace of the House of Lords after being asked if this was possible.
He also offered to ask parliamentary questions and was offered a monthly payment of £10,000 but said he could do a deal for £12,000 a month.He also offered to ask parliamentary questions and was offered a monthly payment of £10,000 but said he could do a deal for £12,000 a month.
Lord (Brian) Mackenzie - a former chief superintendent for Durham police and President of the Police Superintendents Association - was asked whether he could get around Parliament's rules forbidding peers from booking dining facilities for events related to their financial interests.Lord (Brian) Mackenzie - a former chief superintendent for Durham police and President of the Police Superintendents Association - was asked whether he could get around Parliament's rules forbidding peers from booking dining facilities for events related to their financial interests.
"I'd just say to a colleague who has nothing to do with it 'would you host a function for me?'" he says. "I just say to a colleague who has nothing to do with it, 'would you host a function for me?'" he said.
And Lord Laird was asked if he could help with things such as amendments and debates.And Lord Laird was asked if he could help with things such as amendments and debates.
"Oh yeah, yeah," he replies. "Oh yeah, yeah," he replied.
The Sunday Times said all three had told their undercover reporters at the time that they would declare any payment in the House of Lords register and if they were advocating solar energy either in the Lords or in writing to ministers.The Sunday Times said all three had told their undercover reporters at the time that they would declare any payment in the House of Lords register and if they were advocating solar energy either in the Lords or in writing to ministers.
In a statement to the BBC, Lord Laird said he had been "the subject of a scam" by journalists.In a statement to the BBC, Lord Laird said he had been "the subject of a scam" by journalists.
"This has led to allegations that I have broken the rules of the House of Lords," he said."This has led to allegations that I have broken the rules of the House of Lords," he said.
"I wish to make it clear that I did not agree to act as a paid advocate in any proceedings of the House nor did I accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services.""I wish to make it clear that I did not agree to act as a paid advocate in any proceedings of the House nor did I accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services."
He said that, although he had not broken any rules, he had referred himself "to the appropriate authorities" and would be making "no further statement until I have received their ruling".He said that, although he had not broken any rules, he had referred himself "to the appropriate authorities" and would be making "no further statement until I have received their ruling".
'Complex matters''Complex matters'
The other peers have not responded to requests for a comment from the BBC.The other peers have not responded to requests for a comment from the BBC.
But in a statement sent to the Sunday Times on Friday night, Lord Mackenzie said: "I totally refute that I have breached any of the parliamentary rules or lobbied on behalf of any commercial organisation in parliament or abused my position in any way."But in a statement sent to the Sunday Times on Friday night, Lord Mackenzie said: "I totally refute that I have breached any of the parliamentary rules or lobbied on behalf of any commercial organisation in parliament or abused my position in any way."
He said he was "more than happy for these complex matters to be investigated by the House of Lords authorities and confident that I have not breached any part of the code of conduct".He said he was "more than happy for these complex matters to be investigated by the House of Lords authorities and confident that I have not breached any part of the code of conduct".
Lord Cunningham, also in a statement sent to the Sunday Times, said: "I deny any agreement to operate in breach of the House of Lords code of conduct and, in fact, recall that I made it clear that I would only operate within the rules."Lord Cunningham, also in a statement sent to the Sunday Times, said: "I deny any agreement to operate in breach of the House of Lords code of conduct and, in fact, recall that I made it clear that I would only operate within the rules."
He said his reference to "a fanciful £12,000 a month payment" was made to test his suspicion that he had been talking to journalists.He said his reference to "a fanciful £12,000 a month payment" was made to test his suspicion that he had been talking to journalists.
Labour said in a statement it expected all peers to comply with the Lords code of conduct and that, where there was evidence of wrongdoing, the party would consider disciplinary action.Labour said in a statement it expected all peers to comply with the Lords code of conduct and that, where there was evidence of wrongdoing, the party would consider disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, in a separate investigation, Lord Laird was approached by a fake lobbying company - claiming to represent business interests in Fiji - set up by BBC Panorama in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph.Meanwhile, in a separate investigation, Lord Laird was approached by a fake lobbying company - claiming to represent business interests in Fiji - set up by BBC Panorama in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph.
He was secretly filmed being asked if he would be interested in being paid to work for the company.He was secretly filmed being asked if he would be interested in being paid to work for the company.
He said he would be interested in accepting a retainer of £2,000 a month and also discussed with undercover reporters how he would get other people to raise questions in the House of Lords.He said he would be interested in accepting a retainer of £2,000 a month and also discussed with undercover reporters how he would get other people to raise questions in the House of Lords.
On Saturday, the BBC's Panorama programme released footage - secretly filmed as part of the same investigation - of MP Patrick Mercer appearing to offer a Commons security pass to a fake Fijian firm that paid him £4,000 to ask parliamentary questions.On Saturday, the BBC's Panorama programme released footage - secretly filmed as part of the same investigation - of MP Patrick Mercer appearing to offer a Commons security pass to a fake Fijian firm that paid him £4,000 to ask parliamentary questions.
It was released a day after he resigned the Tory whip over the programme's allegations that he broke Commons lobbying rules.It was released a day after he resigned the Tory whip over the programme's allegations that he broke Commons lobbying rules.
Mr Mercer said he took the money for consultancy work outside Parliament, that he was taking legal advice and that he had referred himself to Parliament's standards commissioner.Mr Mercer said he took the money for consultancy work outside Parliament, that he was taking legal advice and that he had referred himself to Parliament's standards commissioner.
On Thursday, Panorama will air allegations from its joint investigation with the Daily Telegraph.On Thursday, Panorama will air allegations from its joint investigation with the Daily Telegraph.
Panorama will be shown on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Thursday.Panorama will be shown on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Thursday.