Neil Hamilton, Former MP for Tatton.

Hamilton found guilty of taking cash (3rd July 1997).

Neil Hamilton and four other former Tory MPs were severely when he 'cash for questions' report said there was "compelling" evidence that Mr Hamilton received - and sought to conceal - cash payments.

These totalled thousands of pounds from Mohamed Fayed, the owner of Harrods. After months of leaks and speculation, the damning report from Sir Gordon Downey, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Sir Gordon also accused Tim Smith, Sir Andrew Bowden, Sir Michael Grylls, and Michael Brown of failing to declare or register interests. Mr Smith, who stood down as a Tory candidate shortly before the election, was said to have fallen "well below" the standards expected.

The criticisms are so strong that all five would have faced disciplinary action. Mr Smith and Mr Hamilton would probably have been expelled from the Commons had Sir Gordon's conclusions been published before the election.

The report was kept under wraps until yesterday as it was not completed until after Parliament prorogued for the election. Labour accused the Tories of getting Parliament up early to prevent publication - a charge denied at the time by John Major.

The evidence that Mr Hamilton had received cash payments directly from Mr Fayed in return for lobbying services was "compelling". The amount was unknown but was unlikely to have been less than the £18,000-£25,000 received by Mr Smith.

"The way in which these payments were received and concealed fell well below the standards expected of MPs," Sir Gordon said. He also censured Mr Hamilton for "deliberately" misleading Michael Heseltine, then President of the Board of Trade, about his financial relationship with Mr Greer when he had received two payments from him totalling £10,000 in 1988 and 1989.

Sir Gordon observed of Mr Hamilton's attitude to registering his interests: "There is a general obligation on Members to the effect: 'If in doubt, register'. Mr Hamilton seems to have adopted the opposite principle and, if in doubt, gave himself the benefit of it."

The report found that Mr Smith, a former junior Northern Ireland minister, had "persistently and deliberately" failed to declare his interests in House of Fraser. It also accused him of a "disingenuous attempt" at concealment of his financial interests.