Hamilton: To present his case before the cameras

Hamilton Faces Televised Hearing

The Commons standards watchdog has granted Mr Hamilton his request for a televised hearing in which he can put his case to them personally.

He will be called to give an oral statement and be questioned by the Standards and Privileges Committee at the Commons on October 14, two weeks before the House returns from its summer break.

But Mr Hamilton will be required to take the rare step of swearing the oath before being cross-examined by the committee.

The Committee has been considering the report of Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Gordon Downey, published last month.

In the report, Sir Gordon found "compelling" evidence that Mr Hamilton accepted cash payments from Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed in return for lobbying services.

The Commissioner concluded: "The way in which these payments were received and concealed fell well below the standards expected of Members of Parliament."

But Mr Hamilton has fervently challenged the claims in a 37-page submission to the Committee, claiming he is the victim of a "miscarriage of justice".

"I continue to deny vehemently that I ever received cash from Mohamed Fayed," insisted Mr Hamilton.

The decision by the committee, which had hoped to complete its inquiries quickly, means the saga will drag on into the autumn.

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