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LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party was at the centre of lobbying allegations on Sunday just weeks before an election, after some of its lawmakers were caught in an undercover sting.
Senior Labour members of parliament (MPs) were filmed by The Sunday Times newspaper and Channel Four television, apparently offering to use their connections with government in return for money - although they all subsequently denied wrongdoing.
They included former Cabinet minister Stephen Byers, who boasted he was a "cab for hire" and asked for up to £5,000 ($10,550) a day for his services.
He suggested to an undercover reporter that he would be able to use his friendship with Business Secretary Peter Mandelson to help his clients' interests.
Mr Byers said yesterday he had asked the parliamentary commissioner for standards to investigate the allegations and believed he would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Labour Party responded by promising tighter regulation on lobbying activities if Mr Brown's government is re-elected in the vote expected on May 6.
But just a few weeks from what is set to be a close ballot and with the public still angered over revelations that lawmakers abused the parliamentary expenses system, the main opposition Conservatives went on the attack.
"These are shocking allegations. I have been warning for some time that lobbying would be the next scandal to hit politics," said party leader David Cameron.
"The House of Commons (lower house of parliament) needs to conduct a thorough investigation into these (former) Labour ministers," he demanded. AGENCIES
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