Local Labour MPs voted against lobbying reform

12.36.17pm GMT Tue 23rd Mar 2010

Hoon: could have voted to change the rules on lobbying, but didn't.

Last night's "Dispatches" contained many allegations of wrongdoing by Ashfield's Geoff Hoon and Leicester's Patricia Hewitt.

Commenting on claims that former Government ministers have offered to influence policy for cash, Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath said

"MPs should not be using their positions to further their own interests over those of the people they should be representing.

"Liberal Democrats brought forward measures to restrict the influence of lobbyists in Parliament. Sadly, Labour voted them down while the Tories failed to show up.

"Labour and the Tories claim they want to clean up politics but the reality proves different.

"Once again it seems the Government and the Tories will say one thing while the truth reveals another."

All three of Nottingham's MPs voted against the Liberal Democrat plans to clean up Parliament, as did Geoff Hoon.

Notes to editors:

Details of the vote are available here: http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2006-10-18&number=314&display=allvotes