Another Conservative MP has gone public with allegations that the Liberal Party has attempted to bribe Tories with ministerial positions or Senate seats to buy votes on the upcoming confidence motion in tomorrow's session. Following the public outing by Inky Marks and the scandalous betrayal by Belinda Stronach, Gurmant Grewal came forward this evening to reveal that the Grits had offered a Senate seat for his wife and a Liberal sinecure to keep him from voting No on the budget:

The Surrey, B.C. MP, whose wife Nina is also a Tory MP, alleges he made an audio recording of the offer from Liberal cabinet minister Ujjal Dosanjh and Tim Murphy, Prime Minister Paul Martin's chief of staff.

The allegation comes a day after Belinda Stronach shocked her Tory caucus colleagues by jumping to the Liberal cabinet.

Mr. Martin insisted the move was Ms. Stronach's initiative and that the Liberals were not actively attempting to poach from Conservative ranks.

Unlike Inky Marks, Grewal didn't hesitate to name names, and the effort comes right from the Prime Minister's office. If he really does have the offer on tape from Murphy, the PM should have some explaining to do to the RCMP. Rarely has North American politics so overtly involved the purchasing of votes through crass promises of personal gain.

If the Liberals have conspired to sell off ministerial positions for patronage, they better hope the effort pays off tomorrow. If they lose control of Parliament and face new elections this summer, a number of them may not return -- and a new government might be inclined to find out what other kinds of bribes (and perhaps threats) the Martin regime has employed. Stronach in particular will have a lot of explaining to do to her riding, but Martin may find himself at the center of a new criminal investigation into government corruption.

Hopefully, the tape will get some airplay later tonight.

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