Two peers face suspension from House of Lords

Two MPs are scheduled to be suspended from the House of Lords for breaching rules on the provision of parliamentary services in exchange for “payment or reward”.

Former Army chief Lord Richard Dannatt and Watford businessman Lord Evans face suspensions of four and five months respectively.

The House of Lords’ standards watchdog launched separate investigations into the two men following the Guardian newspaper’s undercover operation.

Neither side objected to the standards commissioner’s findings or the sanctions, which will come into force once approved by the House of Lords.

During his investigation, The standards commissioner found cross-comparative peer Lord Dannatt had breached the code of conduct by corresponding with ministers and government officials about three companies in which he had a financial interest – UK Nitrgoen, Teledyne UK and Blue International Holdings.

The commissioner also found There were four ways Labor Lord Evans broke the rules, including sponsoring events in Parliament for a company owned by his son and in which he held a third of the shares.

Both men sent themselves to the commissioner after the Guardian reported their comments to the paper’s undercover reporters.

Lord Dannatt was filmed telling journalists that by posing as a potential business client he could meet people in government and “make a point of getting to know” top ministers.

The commissioner concluded that no lobbying activity had taken place and no payments had been received.

But he said Lord Dannatt had “shown a clear willingness to undertake activity that would amount to paid parliamentary services” and had “failed to take sufficient account of the need to act solely in the public interest in parliamentary activities”.

Therefore, he said, his colleague had breached the section of the code of conduct that requires members to “act with personal dignity at all times”.

During the investigation, the commissioner found three further breaches relating to Lord Dannatt contacting people in government about companies in which he had a financial interest.

In those cases, the commissioner said his precedent breached the section of the law that prohibits members of the House of Lords from receiving money for “parliamentary services”.

He said Lord Dannatt’s “lack of understanding” of the law and his belief that he was “acting in the national interest” were not mitigating factors, but acknowledged his peer’s “proactive expressions of regret” and “willingness to learn”.

It emerged that Lord Evans “did not violate his personal dignity” by telling Guardian journalists he could introduce them to MPs.

He also sponsored events in Parliament for his company Affinity, asking members of the House of Lords if they would speak at events.

According to the commissioner’s report, it was stated that tickets for the events were offered for sale at a higher price than the actual cost per person, and this was against the rules of the House of Lords for organizing events.

He stated that Lord Evans believed his shares in Affinity were transferred to his son in 2013 and that he therefore “did not consider that he would benefit from sponsoring Affinity events as a shareholder”.

However, the commissioner concluded that, given the “number and seriousness of the breaches”, a long suspension from the Lords would be appropriate.