PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CONDUCT OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION (No. 3) (1 July 1997)

That this House notes with concern the financial links between the Leader of the Opposition and the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire, given that honourable Member's record in running a lobbying company, Ranelegh, that refused to submit to the industry's system of regulation; further notes Raneleigh's organisation of a private seminar on the previous Government's taxation policy, the participants in which were charged ú700 to attend a discussion with Ministers on matters of public policy; further notes that when the Right honourable Member for Livingston exposed this, the then Employment Secretary Mr Michael Portillo, was so embarrassed that he withdrew from the seminar; regrets that the Leader of the Opposition did not show similar judgement in his relationship with the honourable Member for Mid Bedfordshire; believes that the Leader of the Opposition's ability to deal with sleaze in his party will be judged not on the basis of fine words but on action; and further believes that so far such action has been lacking.

Sponsored by:
Mr Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change)