UK tightens rules to keep MPs from taking bribes

Following a review over the embarrassing 'cash for influence' charges, Peers in the House of Lords are set to be banned from taking payments to advise companies on how to lobby the Parliament.

Peers, who do not get salaries, are permitted to accept outside employment, but claims that four Labour lords offered to seek amendments to certain laws in return for cash gave rise to concerns over the thin line between payments for advice and 'bribes.'

Lords leader, Baroness Royall, has said the House of Lords now faces getting their own standards watchdog under the proposals published on Thursday.

Reports also said that Crossbench peer, Lord Eames, the former Archbishop of Armagh, is now 'convinced' that peers must leave no room for doubt in their code of conduct, which should, at all times, be in the public interest.

"There is no place in the House of Lords for 'peers for hire.' People should look on it as a privilege when given an opportunity to serve in the House of Lords," he emphasized.

The accused peers have denied the allegations but two were suspended for misconduct.

UK's upper house of parliament may also see expense cuts after the Senior Salaries Review Board makes its final decisions on November 4.

Under the cuts, the amount of money Lords can claim for staying overnight in London will be reduced, with the added discomfiture of providing receipts, for the first time ever, to verify the figures.

According to the Daily Telegraph lords can now claim up to £174 for staying overnight if their main home is outside London, but the new rules would set the maximum at around £140.

The precautionary move comes in the wake of the lawmakers' expenses scandal that tainted the reputation of all of the country's three main parties after revelations that MPs used legal loopholes to claim tens of thousands of pounds.

The expenses scandal, ahead of Britain's next general election, has ignited a public mistrust against the two dominant political parties. Combined with growing anger at the country's presence in the war-torn Afghanistan in the face of mounting casualties, it could attract disillusioned voters to far-right parties.