Labour warns against curb on sleaze inquiry

The Commons was warned last night that Labour would not tolerate any attempt to obstruct an all-party investigation into a whip's interference with a 1994 inquiry into the Neil Hamilton affair.

Acting on an allegation that David Willetts, a Treasury minister and former whip, had improperly given advice that could have blocked an investigation into allegations that Mr Hamilton had received cash payments, the Commons last night agreed to open an investigation into the conduct of Mr Willetts.

But Ann Taylor, shadow Leader of the House and a member of the investigating Standards and Privileges Committee, warned the House that Labour would not let the new investigation get bogged down for lack of evidence.

She told MPs: "I hope that those who may be called to give evidence, or to provide documentation, will also be aware of their responsibilities to this House, and that everything the committee needs will be forthcoming."

Mrs Taylor then added: "Unless that is the case, then these matters will not be resolved. I trust, therefore, that everyone will co-operate fully."

Labour clearly fears an operation of Government-inspired foot-dragging, in the possible hope that the inquiry will get bogged down - and even slip beyond a May election.

Moving the motion for a formal complaint of breach of parliamentary privilege to be investigated, the Labour MP Andrew Miller said it was not for whips to meddle in the quasi-judicial investigation of a select committee.

He said an open, public inquiry, and firm action, was required to restore public faith in Parliament.

Alf Morris, a former Labour member of the old Privileges Committee, intervened to say that junior whips like Mr Willetts did not operate as soloists; they were "choreographed" by more senior colleagues like the Chief Whip.

Tony Benn told the House that if it was a corrupt practice for an election candidate to offer a voter a pounds 1,000 inducement to vote, it should also be an election offence for an MP to accept pounds 1,000 to ask a question.

Meanwhile, Sir Gordon Downey, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, has opened his investigation into the original - and buried - allegations about Mr Hamilton accepting cash payments from Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods.

Sir Gordon has so far investigated four allegations that MPs broke the ethical rules of the Commons, with at least three now outstanding.

Meanwhile, Doug Hoyle, the Labour MP whose local party received a donation from the lobbyist Ian Greer, announced yesterday he was resigning from the Commons committee investigating the cash-for-questions affair.