Lord Laird resigns Ulster Unionist party whip

Lord Laird has resigned the Ulster Unionist whip pending an inquiry into allegations he broke parliamentary rules.

The peer is alleged to have offered to carry out parliamentary work for cash after being caught in two separate stings by undercover journalists posing as lobbyists.

A statement released by the party said ''the Ulster Unionist Party expects and demands high standards of our elected representatives. This includes an awareness that rules must be followed in spirit as well as in letter.''

Alan Soady reports.