Westminster Lobbying Scandal: MPs Paid to Ask Questions

Tens of thousands of pounds were paid to two high-flying Conservative MPs, Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith, for asking parliamentary questions on behalf of Harrods during the height of the Lonrho and House of Fraser controversy. Ian Greer Associates, a Westminster lobbying company, was hired by Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed to run a campaign and pay the MPs £2,000 per question. The scandal comes as the Commons Committee of Privileges investigates the "£1,000 cash for questions" affair involving two Tory backbenchers.

Key Takeaways:

• Neil Hamilton, now a minister at the Department of Trade and Industry, received £20,000 for asking parliamentary questions on behalf of Harrods, equivalent to £2,000 per question.
• Tim Smith, junior Northern Ireland minister, also received payments for his role in asking questions.
• The payments were made through Ian Greer Associates, a Westminster lobbying company hired by Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.
• Hamilton worked closely with Ian Greer to pursue Lonrho issues on Al-Fayed's behalf, including writing letters to Cabinet ministers.
• The records show that Hamilton asked 22 questions on behalf of the Al-Fayeds, and his letters reveal a close working relationship with Greer.
• Greer told a Central TV team that his company would "never go out and say we can arrange to have a question tabled, but actually we can".
• Al-Fayed severed relations with Ian Greer Associates and no longer employs parliamentary lobbyists.
• Hamilton's role in this affair raises questions about his integrity and suitability for office.

Statistics:

• £20,000: The amount received by Neil Hamilton for asking parliamentary questions on behalf of Harrods.
• 22: The number of questions asked by Neil Hamilton on behalf of the Al-Fayeds.
• £4,000: The total amount spent by Hamilton for himself and his wife at the Ritz hotel in Paris.
• £2,000: The amount spent by Hamilton on extras such as chauffeur-driven cars while on holiday at the Ritz.

Sources:

• Al-Fayed, M. (1993), Interview with The Guardian.
• Greer, I. (1993), Interview with The Guardian.
• Hamilton, N. (1993), House of Commons letters.
• Smith, T. (1993), House of Commons questions.