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Britain's House of Lords to probe bribe claims
AFP - Sunday, January 25
LONDON (AFP) - - The leader of Britain's House of Lords said on Sunday she would probe allegations that some its members expressed readiness to secure amendments to legislation in exchange for fees.
The Sunday Times newspaper said that four peers, including two former ministers, from the ruling Labour Party had agreed to help its undercover reporters, who were posing as lobbyists, obtain amendments for between 24,000 pounds (25,500 euros, 32,750 dollars) and 120,000 pounds a year.
Baroness Janet Royall, Labour's leader of the House of Lords, said in a statement that she would pursue the claims "with the utmost vigour".
The House of Lords's Code of Conduct notes that its members "must never accept any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence".
According to the Sunday Times, Lord Thomas Taylor declined to propose a potential amendment himself, but said he would work "behind the scenes" to sway ministers and officials.
Taylor, a former consultant for British defence manufacturer BAE Systems, reportedly agreed to a 120,000-pound-a-year retainer.
Former energy minister Peter Truscott similarly said he would work behind the scenes for up to 72,000 pounds.
Lord Lewis Moonie, a former defence minister, said he would help for 30,000 pounds a year, while the Sunday Times reported that Lord Peter Snape indicated he would help for 24,000 pounds.
Questioned by Britain's domestic Press Association, Taylor and Moonie said they had done nothing wrong.
The Sunday Times reporters approached those peers, and six others who either declined to meet with them or rebuffed their offers, by claiming to be lobbyists for a foreign company seeking exemptions from legislation.
Members of Britain's House of Lords are unelected and are not paid a salary, but are allowed to claim expenses for attending sittings of the House or committee meetings.
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File photo of the House of Lords in London. The leader of Britain's House of Lords said on Sunday she would probe allegations that some its members expressed readiness to secure amendments to legislation in exchange for fees.
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