Lords face suspension in sanction not used since 1642

Two Labour peers today faced the shame of being the first members of the Lords to be suspended since the English Civil War.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott were found to have breached the Lords code of conduct after an inquiry into claims that they were willing to accept payments to influence new laws.

The Lords committee for privileges recommended they be suspended for the rest of the parliamentary session and peers are expected to vote to endorse such a sanction next week. The disgraced peers are set to be the first to be handed such a punishment since Lord Savile was suspended for supporting Charles I against Parliament in 1642.

The suspension for about six months is the maximum penalty available to the committee and will cost the two peers access to tax-free allowances worth up to £335 a day.

Two other Labour peers — Lord Moonie and Lord Snape — were cleared of breaching the code but were invited to apologise for showing an "inappropriate attitude" in their talks with undercover reporters.

The Sunday Times approached several peers posing as lobbyists trying to amend legislation. Lord Truscott reportedly discussed a fee of up to £72,000 to work "behind the scenes" while Lord Taylor offered to campaign to persuade ministers for a one-year retainer of £120,000.