Wednesday, January 28, 2009

British Parliament Corruption Scandal Broke-Out


  1. Yahoo UK News URL
  2. Yahoo UK News URL
  3. Yahoo UK News URL
Undercover reporters infiltrated a network and did investigative journalism against the corruptions in British Parliament to prove that Legislators are willing to TAKE $MONEY$ to amend the law for those who are willing to pay them!

It is still not know for how long had these corruptions been going on.

This means that for those Rich & Powerful such as major businesses they can buy the British Lords to tailor the British laws to their own businesses' advantage.

The world must watch this scandal to see who goes to prison for this.

Bravo and Thumbs Up for the reporters who are behind such exposure. Singapore really need such reporters, weather you are foreign media or whatever, as long as you can dig out the corruptions - the bigger the better! Singaporean people will LOVE YOU!

:-)

Brown pledges to 'get to the bottom' of Lords bribery claims

Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged on Monday to "get to the bottom" of claims that some members of the House of Lords expressed willingness to seek amendments to legislation in exchange for cash. Skip related content

Brown described the claims as "very serious allegations", adding that Janet Royall, Labour's leader in the House of Lords, parliament's upper chamber, would investigate the matter and would meet with the peers accused.

The Sunday Times newspaper said that four peers from the governing Labour Party, including two former ministers, had agreed to help undercover reporters posing as business lobbyists to obtain amendments for between 24,000 pounds and 120,000 pounds a year.

All four deny any wrongdoing.

"These are very serious allegations," Brown said.

"It's precisely because of that that Lady Royall announced yesterday she would investigate the matter as an issue of urgency. I know that she will be meeting those that have been named."

He added: "It's important that you don't pre-judge those investigations, but these are serious allegations. We're determined to get to the bottom of what's happened."

"Whatever action needs to be taken will be taken."

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."

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.

According to the newspaper, former BAE Systems consultant Thomas Taylor told the reporters he would not propose a potential amendment himself, but said he would work "behind the scenes" to sway ministers and officials for 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, the paper said.

Lewis Moonie, a former defence minister, said he would help for 30,000 pounds a year, while Peter Snape indicated he would help for 24,000 pounds, The Sunday Times said.

Taylor later denied saying he would accept a fee for being taken on as an adviser, while Moonie said he had had an "informal conversation" but insisted that no contract had been offered.





Police to be called in over House of Lords claims

Liberal Democrats are expected to be make complaints to the police on Monday over accusations that four Labour Party peers were willing to take money in order to influence legislation. Skip related content

The Sunday Times newspaper said that four peers from the ruling Labour Party -- including two former ministers -- had agreed to help undercover reporters posing as business lobbyists to obtain amendments for between 24,000 pounds and 120,000 pounds a year.

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, 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 defence manufacturer BAE Systems -- reportedly agreed to a 120,000-pound-a-year retainer.

Responding to the claims, Taylor said he was approached by two people claiming to work for a lobbying firm and that they had suggested taking him on as an advisor. He never said he would accept a fee, he added.

Former energy minister Peter Truscott similarly said he would work behind the scenes for up to 72,000 pounds, the paper said.

Lewis Moonie, a former defence minister, said he would help for 30,000 pounds a year, while the Sunday Times also reported that Peter Snape indicated he would help for 24,000 pounds.

Moonie said he had had an "informal conversation" but insisted that no contract had been offered.

Truscott and Snape were not contactable for comment.

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 the 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.




Sammyboy.Com Thread