Three members of the House of Lords have been suspended after they agreed to do parliamentary work for money.
Undercover journalists of the Sunday Times filmed Ulster Unionist Lord Laird and Labour's Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Cunningham, offering to help a fake company.
In another investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme Lord Laird discussed accepting cash for lobbying services for a fake Fijian firm, saying he would help start an All Parliamentary Group for Fiji.
Lord Laird said: "I'll deny having said this, but it's a bribe. The sort of thing I can say to these guys. 'Look, you put that question down now. I thought you were interested in Fiji. Would you like to come down to it, y'know? I believe it's quite nice.' But that's why I can say that.
"You don't want it sounding as if the only bloody person in Parliament who raises any bloody thing about Fiji is the guy they pay."
The peer denied the allegations and said he was “the subject of a scam”.
"This has led to allegations that I have broken the rules of the House of Lords," he said.
"I wish to make it clear that I did not agree to act as a paid advocate in any proceedings of the House nor did I accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services."
