This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22844988

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tim Yeo to step aside amid probe into committee coaching claim Tim Yeo to step aside amid probe into committee coaching claim
(35 minutes later)
Conservative MP Tim Yeo is to stand aside from his role as chairman of a powerful committee while claims he used it to help a private company influence Parliament are being investigated. Conservative MP Tim Yeo is to stand aside as chairman of a committee while claims he used the role to help a private company influence Parliament are being investigated.
The MP rejects suggestions he coached a businessman employed by a firm with which he has financial links on what to say in evidence to the committee.The MP rejects suggestions he coached a businessman employed by a firm with which he has financial links on what to say in evidence to the committee.
He says he has acted "in accordance" with the code of conduct for MPs. But Mr Yeo said he did not want the probe to "distract" its work.
Labour had said it was "difficult to see" how Mr Yeo could continue. Labour had said it was "difficult to see" how Mr Yeo could have continued.
Mr Yeo, chairman of the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, was secretly filmed by Sunday Times investigators posing as representatives of a fictional energy company seeking to hire his services.Mr Yeo, chairman of the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, was secretly filmed by Sunday Times investigators posing as representatives of a fictional energy company seeking to hire his services.
In the recording, he appears to suggest that he told a businessman what to say to his committee before the businessman appeared before MPs last month.In the recording, he appears to suggest that he told a businessman what to say to his committee before the businessman appeared before MPs last month.
'Thorough investigation' 'Smooth running'
At the meeting, Mr Yeo publicly excused himself from questioning GB Railfreight managing director John Smith because of his acknowledged conflict of interest as a non-executive director and shareholder in its parent firm Eurotunnel.At the meeting, Mr Yeo publicly excused himself from questioning GB Railfreight managing director John Smith because of his acknowledged conflict of interest as a non-executive director and shareholder in its parent firm Eurotunnel.
Mr Yeo's work for the company is declared in the MPs' register of financial interests and he mentioned it at the start of the committee hearing into the bio-energy industry.Mr Yeo's work for the company is declared in the MPs' register of financial interests and he mentioned it at the start of the committee hearing into the bio-energy industry.
But in the secret recording, the MP claims what he did for GB Railfreight "in private was another matter altogether" and he "was able to tell him (Mr Smith) in advance what he should say".But in the secret recording, the MP claims what he did for GB Railfreight "in private was another matter altogether" and he "was able to tell him (Mr Smith) in advance what he should say".
The MP, who has referred himself to the Parliamentary standards commissioner, told BBC Wales he welcomed a "thorough investigation" and was "absolutely confident" the watchdog would find he had not done anything wrong. Mr Yeo has said he had chatted briefly with Mr Smith five days before the hearing during a visit to one of the firm's freight trains but he "absolutely and unreservedly" denied the suggestion he had told him what to say.
Mr Yeo said he had chatted briefly with Mr Smith five days before the hearing during a visit to one of the firm's freight trains but the suggestion he had told him what to say was "totally untrue". The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said momentum had been building for Mr Yeo to step aside ahead of a meeting of the committee on Tuesday - with Labour making it clear they would no longer support him.
"I did not coach John Smith as the paper alleges," he said. In a statement, Mr Yeo said he had taken the decision to temporary relinquish his post "solely to ensure the smooth running of the committee during the next few weeks".
"He's not a paying client as the paper alleges and like many business executives giving evidence to select committees he actually sought advice from the public affairs company which his company retains for that purpose." He added: "I firmly believe that I have not breached the MPs' code of conduct in any respect and therefore await the outcome of the commissioner's investigation with confidence.
The cross-party committee is due to hold a hearing on the oil industry on Tuesday. "I do not wish the commissioner's investigation to be a distraction from the committee's important work. I believe that during the past three years the committee has been extremely effective and I want this to continue."
'Serious questions''Serious questions'
Before Mr Yeo made the announcement, Labour said he was facing "serious" questions about his conduct and allegations that he had "used his position to further the interests of his clients".Before Mr Yeo made the announcement, Labour said he was facing "serious" questions about his conduct and allegations that he had "used his position to further the interests of his clients".
"Tim Yeo has the right to defend himself but it is difficult to see how he can continue as chair of the select committee pending investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner," said shadow Cabinet Office minister Gareth Thomas. "Tim Yeo has the right to defend himself but it is difficult to see how he can continue as chair of the select committee pending investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner," shadow Cabinet Office minister Gareth Thomas had said.
"If David Cameron won't act then Tim Yeo should take it upon himself to stand down from his post." Eurotunnel is the sole owner of GB Railfreight, having bought the firm in 2010.
Mr Yeo and other select committee chairmen are elected to their posts by other MPs for the duration of Parliament.Mr Yeo and other select committee chairmen are elected to their posts by other MPs for the duration of Parliament.
They receive a supplementary payment of £14,728 in addition to their MP's salary of £66,396.They receive a supplementary payment of £14,728 in addition to their MP's salary of £66,396.
The allegations come amid calls for a tightening of the rules around lobbying of ministers and MPs to ensure greater transparency, with the government promising to bring forward legislation in the coming weeks.The allegations come amid calls for a tightening of the rules around lobbying of ministers and MPs to ensure greater transparency, with the government promising to bring forward legislation in the coming weeks.