Huhne: Allegations in Lords must be investigated by police

7.35.00am GMT Mon 26th Jan 2009

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne has written to Sir Paul Stephenson, Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to ask for an investigation into allegations of bribery offences committed by Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott of St James’s.

In his letter, Chris Huhne said:

"The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are within the political system or outside it, and this is a particularly crucial allegation as it touches on the honesty and integrity of the parliamentary process.

"Moreover, there are no adequate safeguards within the House of Lords to bring the matter to justice, as there is no means of suspending or expelling peers."

Sir Paul Stephenson

Acting Commissioner

Metropolitan Police Service I am writing to ask you to investigate whether an offence has been committed by Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott of St James's, if the reports in the Sunday Times of 25th January 2009 are correct. This does not arise from the entrapment itself, since no money changed hands, and no work was undertaken by the four peers cited. However, Lord Taylor and Lord Truscott are quoted as claiming that they had delivered changes to legislation on behalf of clients. The front page news story states: "Two of the peers were secretly recorded telling the reporters they had previously secured changes to bills going through parliament to help their clients". If this report is confirmed by the tapes or by interviews, it seems to me that the actions are not merely a breach of the Lords' own rules on no paid advocacy but may also be in breach of the common law offence of bribery. The definition of this offence is given by the Law Commission as follows: ‘the receiving or offering [of] any undue reward by or to any person whatsoever, in a public office, in order to influence his behaviour in office, and incline him to act contrary to the known rules of honesty and integrity.' The law must apply to everybody regardless of whether they are within the political system or outside it, and this is a particularly crucial allegation as it touches on the honesty and integrity of the parliamentary process. Moreover, there are no adequate safeguards within the House of Lords to bring the matter to justice, as there is no means of suspending or expelling peers. A precedent was set in the case of Harry Greenway MP in 1992 which covers these circumstances. Although Mr. Greenway was eventually acquitted, Mr. Justice Buckley, the judge presiding over the case, ruled that Members of Parliament could be charged with the common law offence of bribery. As such, I am requesting that the police interview those peers who have been named and investigate whether they have used any parliamentary procedures - including questions or the tabling of amendments - to further the interests of their clients. I would be grateful if you could confirm to me as soon as possible that such a police investigation will be undertaken. Yours sincerely, Chris Huhne MP

(Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary)