‘Lords for hire’ face a year’s suspension

Two senior Labour peers face public censure tomorrow over the "Lords for hire" scandal, the Evening Standard has learned.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott are likely to be suspended for offering to amend laws in return for money. Peers will vote later this month on calls to exclude the pair from Parliament for an unprecedented period of up to a year or more, to reflect the outrage felt on all sides over the scandal.

Two other peers caught up in allegations of cash for influence have not been found guilty. They were former Labour whip Lord Snape and ex-Defence minister Lord Moonie.

A report at 11am tomorrow will make history with its strong criticism and call for stern punishment of the pair, who were exposed by an undercover newspaper sting. Lord Taylor was taped claiming he had managed to change legislation to help a client, Experian, the credit check company. He told Sunday Times reporters posing as businessmen: "I will work within the rules, but the rules are meant to be bent sometimes."

Asked how much it would cost to employ him, he replied: "You have got to whet my appetite to get me on board." He claimed firms were happy to pay up to £100,000.

Lord Truscott, the former Energy minister, said he had already helped change the Energy Bill for a client selling "smart" electricity meters. He was said to have offered help for a fee of up to £72,000.

He told the newspaper: "I can work with you ... identifying people and ... meeting people, talking to people to facilitate the amendment and making sure the thing is granted."

The pair are said to have argued that there is no law allowing them to be suspended from the House. However, they may be told to take leave of absence for a year or more.

All peers are expected to follow a code that says they must "take decisions solely in the public interest". They are forbidden from accepting money to help change the law.

Both Lord Taylor and Lord Truscott have strongly denied wrongdoing. Neither responded to messages left today.