MPs yesterday wound up their cash-for-questions inquiry into Neil Hamilton, the disgraced former Tory MP, after opting not to pursue evidence which the former Trade Minister claimed may have helped to clear his name, writes Denis Campbell.

The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee, Parliament's sleaze watchdog, decided it had heard enough evidence about the long-running Hamilton saga. It decided not to grant the ex-MP's demand to call his main accuser, Mohammed Al Fayed, and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Gordon Downey, and cross-examine them under oath.

The committee, which will publish its verdict after meeting next week, is now almost certain not to overturn the finding of Sir Gordon's report that there was ''compelling'' evidence that Hamilton took cash payments from Mr Al Fayed in return for asking questions in Parliament.

As the committee met, the deposed Tatton MP produced cassette tapes which he claimed proved his innocence. Mr Hamilton said the secretly-recorded conversations between Mr Al Fayed and his arch-rival Mr ''Tiny'' Rowland ''give a very illuminating background to the cash-for-questions saga, the reasons why it started and in particular, the reasons why he [Al Fayed] singled me out''.

The ex-MP said he was disappointed the Standards Committee was not prepared to question Al Fayed and his employees.