An article appeared on Tuesday (17) on The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s website under the title: Lobbying’s Hidden Influence: Lord Blencathra – in his own words.

The article was in the form of a question and answer from extracts taken from the transcript of a question-and-answer session during a press conference in the Cayman Islands on 5 April 2012 with Lord Blencathra and MPs Graham Brady and Brian Donohoe, who are respectively chairman and vice-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Cayman Islands.

The extracts taken were chosen as being related to another article on the same website – Lawmakers should not be lobbyists, with emphasis on the following quotes from Lord Blencathra:

“I work for the Cayman Islands government in London not for the UK Government in Cayman: Very clear about that.”

“I’ve been appointed because I have 27 years experience as a Member of Parliament, ten to twelve years experience in a British Government. I’m still a Parliamentarian in a different colour of the corridor in Westminster.”

“I passionately believe in low tax competition between jurisdictions.”

In another UK media house,“The Independent”, Shadow Cabinet minister Jon Tricket is quoted as saying, “It can’t be right for a member of the legislature, responsible for setting tax policy, to be employed by a well-known tax haven,”

Lord Blencathra replied back saying, “You cannot point to one single incident, speech, vote or question where I have sought to advance the Cayman Islands in the Lords.” This article appeared under the title “Revealed: Ex-Conservative minister Lord Blencathra paid to lobby for island tax haven.”

The article makes the claim: “Lord Blencathra, a former MP and Tory chief whip, is being paid by the Cayman Islands government to represent the interests of its financial services industry – despite also being able to vote on legislation affecting the territory.

“Inquiries by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Independent have established that Lord Blencathra has lobbied on behalf of the Caymans while claiming thousands of pounds in House of Lords attendance allowances.”

As a member of the House of Lords, he is able to vote on legislation affecting the territory.

Watch this space for more.