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Hoon suspended after undercover documentary revelations
EASTWOOD MP Geoff Hoon has denied any wrongdoing despite being suspended by the Labour Party after an undercover documentary accused him of being involved in the latest cash-for-access scandal.
Mr Hoon was suspended on Monday evening along with former Transport Secretary Stephen Byers and ex-Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt after all three appeared on Channel 4's Dispatches programme.
In the footage, MPs were approached by reporters posing as lobbyists for an American firm and appeared to offer political favours for the firm in return for large pay-outs.
The ex-Defence Secretary — who is to stand down at the General Election — was seen to discuss with an undercover reporter how he was interested in translating his knowledge of contacts into something that 'bluntly, makes money.'
He also said he 'didn't mind leading a delegation in to see a minister', although he did express concern at being seen to leave politics and return as a lobbyist.
The outgoing MP also revealed that he would want 3,000 a day for providing advice to the fake company on what direction defence policies would be heading.
He stressed he would be unable to take on any further work until after April — when he said he believed Parliament would be dissolved — but claimed he would be available after the date, saying: "After that, you know, I'm yours!"
Under Parliamentary rules, MPs are entitled to be able to take on paid work from firms — providing they declare any payments in the declaration of members' interests.
Although the practice of lobbying is controversial, it is still permitted by Parliament — but members are not allowed to take payments in return for putting forward amendments or voting on bills.
Now the latest controversy has led to calls for a Government inquiry into the revelations from Conservative leader David Cameron, who claimed most people would be 'disgusted' by the TV programme.
The suspension of Mr Hoon — who was heavily involved in the expenses scandal last year, but again denied doing anything wrong — also comes just months after he and Ms Hewitt launched a failed coup against Labour leader Gordon Brown — with the pair appealing for fellow MPs to turn against the Prime Minister.
Following the latest row, Mr Hoon said he had made clear during an 'informal chat' that he would not lobby Government or 'attempt to sell confidential or privileged information arising from my time in Government'.
Speaking on Monday evening, he said there was nothing wrong with him using his political experience to make money but said perhaps he 'shouldn't have put it that way'.
He went on to claim that he had been in a private conversation with the undercover reporter, whom he believed to be genuine, and that she was pushing him about what he might do for the private sector.
Eastwood Labour town councillor Peter Butller said: "It's defintely a bad thing, but until it's proven with the investigation it's only an allegation really."
Despite requests by the Advertiser to speak to Mr Hoon, he refused to comment on the matter.
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Weather for Eastwood
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
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