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03/06/2013
UUP Suspends Lord Laird
The Ulster Unionist Party has suspended Lord Laird from its Westminster team following claims that he agreed to carry out parliamentary work for payment.
The news follows a report by the Sunday Times, in which undercover journalists filmed three peers appearing to offer help to a fake solar energy company.
The BBC's Panorama programme and the Daily Telegraph filmed Lord Laird discussing a retainer for parliamentary questions.
Lord Laird, Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate deny wrongdoing.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Having reviewed the video footage on the Daily Telegraph website, and other media reporting of Lord Laird's engagement with alleged lobbyists, I telephoned his home this morning (Sunday) and as a result he has relinquished the Party Whip, pending the outcome of the review of his behaviour that he has already requested of the relevant authorities at Westminster.
"The Ulster Unionist Party expects and demands high standards of our elected representatives. This includes an awareness that rules must be followed in spirit as well as in letter. No member, no matter what their status or length of service, will be given special privilege against a breach of these standards."
(IT)
The news follows a report by the Sunday Times, in which undercover journalists filmed three peers appearing to offer help to a fake solar energy company.
The BBC's Panorama programme and the Daily Telegraph filmed Lord Laird discussing a retainer for parliamentary questions.
Lord Laird, Lord Cunningham and Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate deny wrongdoing.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "Having reviewed the video footage on the Daily Telegraph website, and other media reporting of Lord Laird's engagement with alleged lobbyists, I telephoned his home this morning (Sunday) and as a result he has relinquished the Party Whip, pending the outcome of the review of his behaviour that he has already requested of the relevant authorities at Westminster.
"The Ulster Unionist Party expects and demands high standards of our elected representatives. This includes an awareness that rules must be followed in spirit as well as in letter. No member, no matter what their status or length of service, will be given special privilege against a breach of these standards."
(IT)
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