Expel Lords who break the law

Lords who are convicted of a criminal offence and face a prison sentence should be expelled from Parliament.

The allegations of accepting payment in return for changing legislation are serious enough. But on top of that the sanctions applied to the peers if they are found guilty are so weak.

The most the accused peers will have to do if the Lords’ investigation finds them guilty is to apologise.

It is wholly out of step with the public’s legitimate demand for transparency in politics that just because someone happens to be in the House of Lords they are exempt from the most basic standards of accountability.

Police 'should probe Lords case'

The Liberal Democrats have called for a police inquiry into allegations that four Labour peers were prepared to accept money to change proposed laws.

Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said if the claims, made in the Sunday Times newspaper, were true a criminal offence would have been committed.

The four are said to have offered to amend laws in return for up to £120,000 - claims that they all deny.

The Leader of the House of Lords has promised a full investigation.

The Sunday Times said its reporters had posed as lobbyists acting for a foreign client.

This firm was said to be setting up a chain of shops in the UK and wanting an exemption from the Business Rates Supplements Bill.

Mr Huhne said the Lords must "toughen up" its own procedures to make sure allegations such as these did not surface again.

From BBC News Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7849990.stm