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The press watchdog is investigating the Daily Telegraph’s use of undercover reporters to record Lib Dem ministers’ thoughts on the coalition government.

It reported comments made by Business Secretary Vince Cable in a meeting with people he thought were constituents.

Lib Dem President Tim Farron asked the Press Complaints Commission to investigate. The PCC said 200 people contacted them over the story.

Mr Cable controversially claimed to have “declared war” on Rupert Murdoch.

The taped remarks led to him being stripped of his powers to rule on Mr Murdoch’s bid to take control of BSkyB.

Mr Cable later told his local newspaper the Telegraph had “completely undermined” the work of local MPs – the newspaper argued that its story was clearly in the public interest. Other Lib Dem ministers taped making unguarded remarks were Norman Baker, David Heath and Paul Burstow.

A PCC spokesman said: “We have now received a letter from the Liberal Democrats asking us formally to investigate. We will do so under clause 10 (Clandestine devices and subterfuge) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.”

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Speculation is increasing that Brian Cowen’s position as leader of Ireland’s ruling Fianna Fail party is threatened.

The Irish PM is being scrutinised over a meeting with the head of Anglo Irish Bank Sean Fitzpatrick shortly before a multi-million euro bank guarantee.

Anglo subsequently collapsed under bad debts and Mr Fitzpatrick has been questioned by police about his role.

Irish broadcaster RTE reported that one senior Fianna Fail source said a vote of confidence was possible on Thursday.

It is understood that if faced with such a motion, there is a possibility that Mr Cowen could resign the leadership before a vote.

The prime minister gave the Irish parliament his account of his dealings with Mr Fitzpatrick on Wednesday.

Mr Fitzpatrick has previously been arrested by police investigating the downfall of the bank and is still the subject of official scrutiny.

Denial

A book recently revealed that Mr Cowen met Mr Fitzptrick for dinner at a golf course in 2008.

However, the Taoiseach (prime minister) has denied that he discussed bank matters and insisted that he had not done political favours for any financial institution.

Mr Cowen, who took power in 2008, has faced severe criticism over his government’s handling of the banking crisis and the subsquent recession.

Last month, there were rumours of an internal push against him but his critics pulled back at the last moment.

He has been under pressure since Ireland was forced last year to seek an international financial bail-out.

His coalition government has only a slim minority in parliament and a general election is expected in the spring.

‘Vigorous debate’

Irish finance minister Brian Lenihan, who is visiting Belfast on Thursday, said he was not fully briefed on what was happening in Dublin.

“Naturally I have confidence in him but there is vigorous debate within the party, deputies are worried about the very existence of the party,” Mr Lenihan said.

BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said a successful motion of no confidence would not necessarily lead to the removal of Mr Cowen as prime minister.

“A snap election is possible, but not inevitable.

“A general election is due to be held in March and it is possible that Mr Cowen could stay in office while his party selects a new leader in advance of the election.”

Our correspondent explained that the government would be reluctant to call an immediate general election as a finance bill, implementing measures in last month’s budget, is not due to come into law until next month.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

By James Landale

The referendum on changing the way MPs are elected could be delayed beyond 5 May, the BBC has learned.

The vote on bringing in the alternative vote system could be postponed because Labour peers are holding up the progress of the bill which would enable it to happen.

Peers have spent eight days discussing the bill – with more scrutiny planned.

It would have to become a parliamentary act by mid-February for the referendum to take place on time.

MPs have backed plans for the public vote on 5 May, despite concerns that combining it with devolved and local elections would detract from these polls and potentially confuse the electorate.

Peers have spent eight days discussing the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill in its detailed “committee stage”, with two more days of meetings scheduled for next week.

Last Monday the Lords spent five-and-a-half hours debating – but not voting on – two Labour amendments, a debate conducted almost entirely by the party’s peers.

However, Labour peers deny they are trying to delay the bill, insisting they are instead trying to improve it.

They say ministers could get the parts of the legislation relating to the referendum through quickly if they separated that from the more controversial elements which pave the way for constituency boundary changes and a reduction in the number of MPs.

But the government has made it clear they are not prepared to do this because both issues relate to how MPs are elected to Parliament.

If the bill is delayed further there will not be enough time for it to get through its remaining legislative hurdles and become law by 16 February, the deadline set by the Electoral Commission watchdog which will oversee the referendum.

The commission has written to ministers to inform them that there will not be enough time to prepare for the ballot unless the legislation receives royal assent by this date.

Under the AV system – which would replace first-past-the post elections – voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.

Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected. If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers’ second choices allocated to those remaining. This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes cast

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.