UK - Parliamentary report fails to clear MP's

(20 Mar 1997) T/I: 11:06:56


Embattled Prime Minister John Major's re-election campaign hit a new snag Thursday (20/3) when a parliamentary report failed to clear 10 of his MPs, including two former ministers, in a nagging sleaze scandal.

SHOWS:

LONDON, UK, 20/3
w/s House of Commons;
John Major taking stand
cu Chris Mullen, MP demanding extension of Parliament to enable publication of Downey report into "cash for questions" scandal
SOT Major, accusing opposition of only wanting to raise issue because unemployment figures were down.
Labour leader Tony Blair pressing Major to extend parliament for report publication
SOT Major's reply
opposition benches
cu Speaker Betty Boothroyd demanding MPs attention
SOT Blair, demanding publication of report;
w/s Commons
SOT Major "This is a matter that needs dealing fairly with in the interests of Members concerned."
Liberal leader Paddy Ashdown standing up
SOT Ashdown "And if he does then he should not be surprised if the country doesn't conclude that he enters the election as he ran his administration: on a broken promise..............."
SOT Major, accusing Ashdown of being pompous and pious
w/s Commons

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