Review of bribes Act ordered by No 10

ES Comment: Ministers must think again on bribery law

Just weeks before the Bribery Act is due to come into force, David Cameron's office stepped in after warnings by business chiefs that bosses could end up in court after unwittingly committing an offence.

The legislation, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, may now go before a "star chamber" chaired by Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Vince Cable.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has been urged to intervene to stop British firms being hit by the anti-corruption regime, which experts say will be the toughest in the world.

Today lawyers for Formula 1's Team Lotus warned that sponsors could walk away because of fears of unfairly being caught by the act. It creates two general offences of bribery, a specific offence of bribery of a foreign public official and an offence of failure by a company to prevent a bribe being paid for or on its behalf.

A No10 spokesman said: "It is being looked at in the context of the growth review [into burdens on businesses]."