Four Labour Members Suspended

The Parliamentary Labour Party has suspended four of its members over alleged sleaze.

Three of those who have temporarily been expelled are former senior cabinet ministers, another is a backbench MP.

Labour said Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon had brought the party into "disrepute".

They, along with Luton South MP Margaret Moran, are under investigation by Parliamentary authorities following revelations in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme aired last night.

The politicians were filmed allegedly touting their services to reporters posing as lobbyists.

Mr Byers, a former Trade secretary, described himself in the undercover recordings as "a sort of taxi for hire".

Labour peer Baroness Morgan and Conservative MP John Butterfill were also featured in the TV report.

All the public figure filmed by the journalists have denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Hoon, the former Defence secretary, and ex Health secretary Ms Hewitt have already announced their intentions to step down from the Commons at the next General Election.

Labour confirmed the suspension of its members last night.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said there is "anger" among MPs and Opposition leader David Cameron has vented his disgust at the allegations.

Yesterday Mr Byers surrendered himself to the Westminster watchdog tasked with upholding MPs' conduct. He said he hoped the investigation would find he had not breach any code of ministerial behaviour.

Labour will also be carrying out its own probe into the reported actions of Mr Hoon, Mr Byers and Ms Hewitt.

Mr Straw told the BBC: "It appears that former cabinet ministers are putting making money ahead of meeting their constituents...

"There's anger... and incredulity about their stupidity... getting suckered by a sting like this."

He denied Gordon Brown was involved in a plot to shame the vocal supporters of his predecessor Tony Blair.

Mr Hoon and Ms Hewitt were behind an attempted coup to overthrow the Prime Minister earlier this year.

(PR/BMcc)