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Three peers 'offered to lobby for fake firm' Three peers 'offered to lobby for fake firm'
(about 1 hour 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, Labour's Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Cunningham deny wrongdoing.
Separately, Daily Telegraph reporters filmed Lord Laird discussing a retainer to ask parliamentary questions.
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 suggests the peers, who it filmed separately, may have broken those strict rules. The Sunday Times suggests the three 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 - offered to write to the prime minister to push the solar energy company's supposed agenda.
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. He told undercover reporters he offered "value for money" because he could introduce them to senior members of all three of the main political parties.
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. In a statement sent to the Sunday Times, Lord Cunningham 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.
Lord (Brian) Mackenzie, a former chief superintendent for Durham police and President of the Police Superintendents Association, said he could arrange parties for paying clients - including on the terrace of the House of Lords - after being asked if this was possible.
"I just say to a colleague who has nothing to do with it, 'would you host a function for me?'" he said."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. When asked if he had done anything wrong, Lord Mackenzie told BBC Radio 5 live: "Not at all".
"Oh yeah, yeah," he replied. "There is nothing in the rules to prevent a peer hosting a function, as long as he has no financial interest. I was being interviewed in connection, I thought, with a position as a consultant for this energy company... not as a lobbyist."
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. He said that the "complex" rules of lobbying "puts peers in a very difficult position". "I have asked no questions for money," he added.
The third peer, Lord Laird, said he could arrange to get other peers involved. He explained that, working together, they could ask parliamentary questions for each other's clients, put down amendments in debates or write 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' 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.
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."
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."
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. Second investigation
In the separate investigation by the Daily Telegraph in conjunction with the BBC's Panorama programme, Lord Laird was approached by a fake lobbying company - claiming to represent business interests in Fiji.
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 arrange for questions to be raised in Parliament for a retainer of £2,000 a month.
The Ulster Unionist Party said Lord Laird contacted the party on Friday regarding the allegations.
A spokesman for the party said: "He assured the party that he has done nothing wrong, but in the interest of transparency, he has referred himself to the appropriate authorities at Westminster so that they can take a view on his conduct. The Ulster Unionist Party considers that this is the correct course of action."
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.