Former Tory MP Neil Hamilton is expected to be accused of accepting money in return for asking questions in Parliament by a panel which investigated his conduct.

However, it is thought that not all the committee's members will back the findings of the committee of MPs, due to be published on Thursday.

Quentin Davies: Travesty not to question Al Fayed

Two Conservative MPs, Quentin Davies and Ann Widdecombe, are not expected to support the majority on the committee. They feel that the investigation should have taken further evidence so that justice could be seen to be done.

Mr Davies says it will be "the greatest travesty of justice of all" to reject Mr Hamilton's appeal without questioning his chief accuser, the Harrods owner, Mohamed Al Fayed. Mr Hamilton's request that further witnesses should be called was turned down last week.

The committee seems very likely to endorse the recommendations of the standards commissioner Sir Gordon Downey.

Gordon Downey: compelling evidence

He said there was compelling evidence that Mr Hamilton had received cash payments for lobbying. He said the way in which payments were received and concealed fell well below the standards expected of MPs.

The committee has no power to fine Mr Hamilton or ban him from holding office again. But the findings have the potential to severely damage his reputation.

This is the first real test of Parliament's new machinery for rooting out sleaze.

Quentin Davies says the way it has highlighted a profound crisis for self-regulation. And although the other members of the committee seem satisfied the process has been fair, they will be unhappy they could not produce a unanimous report.
 

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