Two Lords face suspension over cash-for-amendments
By politics.co.uk staff
Two members of the House of Lords are facing suspension for six months over the cash-for-amendments scandal, after the parliamentary sleaze committee found them guilty of misconduct.
Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott – both Labour peers – will discover their fate next week.
The committee has already recommended they be suspended until the end of the current session, but that will only be confirmed by a House of Lords vote next week.
Both men were caught in a Sunday Times’ sting operation where they appeared willing to amend government legislation in return for cash.
Leader of the ppposition in the House of Lords, Lord Strathclyde, said: “The report from the Privileges Committee is a bleak day in the history of the Lords. The allegations were serious. They needed, and got, an exhaustive examination in which those under investigation had full opportunity to put their point of view.
“The findings were clear. The attitudes and actions revealed fell short of what both Parliament and the country is entitled to expect. The sentences proposed are very severe. But they are in my view fully deserved.”
Lord Moonie and Lord Snape have been cleared but will have to apologise to the upper House for “inappropriate attitude”.
