I've done nothing wrong, says Scots MP caught up in 'cash for access' scandal

Published on Sunday 28 March 2010 22:51

ADAM Ingram, the former armed forces minister, has denied any wrongdoing after becoming the latest MP embroiled in the cash for access scandal.

Mr Ingram, who is not standing for re-election, was quoted in a Sunday newspaper as saying he could use contacts to help companies access former ministers and civil servants once he was no longer an MP. But the member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow said he had been "conned" by an undercover reporter posing as a businessman.

"Having served as a Member of Parliament for over 23 years, no-one should find it surprising that, having taken the decision to stand down at the next election, I was interested in exploring opportunities for future employment," he said. "I have always been open and upfront about my outside interests since leaving ministerial office in 2007. I have at all times complied with the rules and regulations of the House of Commons."

Former ministers Geoff Hoon, Patricia Hewitt and Stephen Byers, who described himself as a "cab for hire" charging up to 5,000 a day, have been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party after they were filmed saying they would be prepared to lobby the government in exchange for large sums of money.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I think there's a very strong case for MPs not having second jobs.

"I think it's important to recognise when people select or elect Members of Parliament, their first priority, their first job, their first loyalty, has got to be to the needs of their constituents."

He went on: "There's got to be a register of lobbying interests, there's got to be openness and transparency in the expenses system. I was appalled by some of things I saw happening that I knew nothing about."

Mr Ingram and Richard Caborn, the Prime Minister's ambassador for England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup, were embroiled in the matter yesterday. Mr Ingram was quoted as saying: "It's worthwhile sometimes cultivating a minister; it depends how they react and how amenable they are.

"But decision-makers really, well, in the big sense, are the civil service structure, because they do all the definitions of how you're going to deliver on a particular project. They draw up invitations to tender, they then make all the recommendations which may not cross the minister's desk."

Asked if he could help develop relationships with ministers and civil servants, he said: "I'd do that."

He put his fee at 1,500 a day.

Mr Caborn said he would charge up to 2,500 for providing "access to people".