|
|
| Ex-ministers Byers, Hewitt and Hoon caught in cash sting |
FORMER Cabinet ministers were embroiled in a cash-for-access row last night after falling victim to an elaborate TV sting.
Twenty senior MPs and peers were offered payments of up to £35,000 a year for helping a fake firm forge lucrative links with the government.
Six of them demanded between £3,000 and £5,000 A DAY to sit on a make-believe advisory board.
And several are said to have exaggerated their influence in the hope of cashing in.
Ex-Transport Secretary Stephen Byers even claimed he was like a “cab for hire” to the tricksters as he boasted about how he still has a direct line to the heart of government.
Others caught up in the sting include ex-Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, ex-Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former whip Margaret Moran.
The operation is a major blow to MPs already discredited over their lavish taxpayer-funded expenses claims.
TV investigators hatched the undercover plot to find the lengths politicians would go to to pocket extra cash.
They set up fake consultancy firm Anderson Perry Associates with a sophisticated front, including a website and address in San Francisco.
Then they invited 13 Labour and seven Tory figures — all of whom are standing down at the next election — to meet at its pretend London HQ. Those who accepted were told the company planned to expand in the UK and wanted “people with influence” to head up its lobbying team.
One was even asked to help sway new immigration laws to make it easier for Indian nationals to work in Britain.
The embarrassing results can be seen tomorrow night on Politicians For Hire, a Channel 4 Dispaches show.
After his meeting, Byers phoned the “company” back the next day, saying he was “not the right type” for the job.
His spokesman said: “Stephen met with these people in good faith, believing there was the chance of a job after he stands down as MP.
“He accepts he over-exaggerated the influence he had and some things he did in the past.
“It wasn’t ideal, but he did withdraw his remarks.”
Last night a Labour source said many MPs caught up in the sting were “mortified” at being duped. But the insider added: “Many later contacted the so-called firm saying they were no longer interested and that their comments had either been lies or exaggerations.
“Considering some are mere backbench MPs, some of their claims are quite laughable.
“But we are assured by those approached that they followed the rules absolutely.”
Comments
Keeping one eye on the rest of the web
Westminster blog spy
|
|
