Ministers facing 'cash for access' claims
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Independent Minds
Lobbyists with close links to the Labour Party have been caught on tape claiming that two ministers are helping their business by providing them with information.
According to The Sunday Times, Stephen Ladyman, the Transport minister, and Gerry Sutcliffe, the Prisons minister, were identified by the lobby firm Golden Arrow Communications in an investigation into "cash for access".
The firm employs the former Labour MPs David Jamieson, once a Labour transport minister, and Ivan Henderson, a former MP and ministerial aide.
Mr Henderson was taped claiming that Mr Sutcliffe was prepared to show them his Whitehall diary. "He [Sutcliffe] is saying to us, 'come on, you use me... I want to help you. Use me'."
The former MP also said of Stephen Ladyman: "Every time I email him... He says 'Ivan, this is what the score is'... It is a bit dodgy sometimes."
Last night both ministers denied any wrong doing. Golden Arrow said there was "no question of any impropriety". David Davis, Tory spokesman for home affairs, called for an independent investigation.
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