Thursday, April 27, 2006

New Labour Sleaze Allegation

Tricia Law, widow of Peter Law, the Independent MP for Blaenau Gwent, who died this week has given an interview to the BBC Wales Dragon's Eye programme. In it she alleges that Law was offered a Peerage by "a very high ranking Labour politician" if he would agree not to stand in the constituency as an Independent at the last election. Labour denies the allegation.

UPDATE: 10.45pm Cheryl Gillan, shadow Welsh secretary, said she would be writing toPrime Minister Tony Blair and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain for"further clarification''. She said: "I am very concerned that it appears a peerage wasoffered to Peter Law not to stand at the last general election. "I find it surprising that the Labour Party is already denyingthis when they cannot possibly have had a chance to fully investigate the claims in such a short space of time.''

UPDATE: 12.05am From James in the Comments Section: Whether it is sleazy or not is immaterial. The point is, it's illegal. From the Honours (Prevention of abuses) Act 1925"If any person accepts, obtains or agrees to accept or obtain from any person, for himself or for any other person, or for any purpose, any gift, money or valuable consideration as an inducement or reward for procuring or assisting or endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour to any person or otherwise in connection with such a grant, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."It's undeniable that this is a valuable consideration. Thus, if true, the senior Labour politician is up for a prosecution.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Somehow, and I really can't understand why, I have a great deal of difficulty in believing Labour on this one.

Anonymous said...

Is she going to the police?

Another nail in the coffin....

ian said...

Offered? The bastards. Some people are paying good money for peerages, and now they're giving them away.

Chris Palmer said...

Do you think they'll offer her a peerage to keep quiet?

Anonymous said...

Even if it were true how is it "sleaze"? Of course, as the dead man is not around to speak for himself.

Iain Dale said...

Anonymous, if you can't understand why that is sleazy you demonstrate how out of touch New Labour has beconme. Shame on you.

Bob Piper said...

Party Leader offers peerage for embarassing MP to not stand? Get real Iain. That is exactly how Prime Ministers and Opposition Leaders have shafted those they want to shunt upstairs for generations, and well you know it.

James Graham (Quaequam Blog!) said...

Whether it is sleazy or not is immaterial. The point is, it's illegal. From the Honours (Prevention of abuses) Act 1925

"If any person accepts, obtains or agrees to accept or obtain from any person, for himself or for any other person, or for any purpose, any gift, money or valuable consideration as an inducement or reward for procuring or assisting or endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour to any person or otherwise in connection with such a grant, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."

It's undeniable that this is a valuable consideration. Thus, if true, the senior Labour politician is up for a prosecution.