THE OBSERVER'S INVESTIGATION OF LOBBYISTS

Early day motion 1529, tabled 8 July 1998 by Lord Allan of Hallam (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 20 members.

That this House congratulates The Observer newspaper on its willingness to investigate the ethical standards of government in Britain, irrespective of that government's political colour; is gravely disappointed at the poor response of Her Majesty's Government to the activities revealed by The Observer; believes that when the British people voted for change last year, they did not expect to see Labour Party activists exploiting their contacts with the new Labour Government for large lobbying fees; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to treat allegations of misbehaviour by Labour lobbyists with the same seriousness with which they took claims about the Conservative Government before 1st May last year.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 19, Scottish National Party 1.