There are currently two House of Lords Commissioners for Standards, officers of the United Kingdom House of Lords. When the post was created in 2010 there was a single commissioner who was "responsible for the independent and impartial investigation of alleged breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct". Duties of the Commissioners include investigating potential misuse of expenses and parliamentary facilities.[1] Members' opinions, or the way they express themselves, do not fall within the scope of the code.[2]
The current Commissioners are Martin Jelley QPM and Akbar Khan.[3]
Past commissioners
edit- Paul Kernaghan CBE QPM was appointed in 2010 as the first Commissioner. Mr Kernaghan previously had a police career culminating in a nine-year period as Chief Constable of Hampshire until 2008, followed by service as Head of Mission for the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories.
- Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, a former president of The Law Society,[3] was appointed for five years from 1 June 2016.
Investigations
edit| Name of Peer | Date | Allegation | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Richards of Herstmonceux | February 2017 | Minor breach (non-declaration of relevant interest) | Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct |
| Lord Tope | February 2019 | Improper use of House of Lords facilities | Complaint dismissed |
| Lord Barker of Battle | February 2019 | Payment for providing parliamentary advice or services
Paid advocacy on behalf of Russian companies |
Complaints dismissed |
| Lord Fairfax of Cameron | |||
| Lord Hain | April 2019 | Violation of the sub judice resolution
Paid advocacy Abuse of parliamentary privilege by naming Philip Green |
Complaint dismissed |
| Lord Singh of Wimbledon | April 2019 | Non-registration and non-declaration of a relevant interest | Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct |
| Lord Deben | June 2019 | Inaccurate descriptions of interests
Non-declaration of relevant interests |
Complaints dismissed |
| Baroness Meacher | June 2019 | Non-declaration of relevant interest (Chair of Dignity in Dying) | Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct. |
| Lord Stone of Blackheath | October 2019 | Harassment (Sexual and transphobic) | Complaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents |
| Lord Black of Brentwood | December 2019 | Insufficient description of the role of company
Failure to declare relevant interest |
Complaints upheld.
|
| Lord Lea of Crondall | January 2020 | Harassment and discrimination based on age and sex | Complaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents |
| Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington | February 2020 | Failure to declare nature of consultancy work performed by one of Lord Stevens' companies
Failure to declare company that Lord Stevens held significant control over |
Complaints upheld.
|
| Baroness Meacher | June 2020 | Improper of House of Lords stationary on non-parliamentary activity (Dignity in Dying) | Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct. |
| Lord Smith of Kelvin | June 2020 | Failure to declare companies of which Lord Smith is a Director. | Complaints upheld.
|
| Lord Adonis | June 2020 | Failure to declare his interest as Non-Executive Director of HS2 Ltd
Failure to declare a non-financial interest and advisory board position in the member's register of interests |
Complaints upheld.
|
| Participation in the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill without making relevant declarations | Complaint dismissed. | ||
| Lord Stone of Blackheath | July 2020 | Harassment and discrimination based on religion, age and sex | Complaints upheld.
|
| Lord Lea of Crondall | August 2020 | Bullying | Complaints upheld.
|
| Mr. Benedict Rich(Staff of Lord Lansley) | October 2020 | Not specifying the consultancy work done in the register of interests. | Complaints upheld. Required to correct register of interest. |
| Use of position in the House of Lords for the purpose of lobbying | Complaint dismissed. | ||
| Lord Ahmed | November 2020 | Sexual misconduct
Racism |
The Committee recommended expulsion from the House of Lords. Lord Ahmed resigned prior to any sanctions being given. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lords Commissioner". parliament website. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ "Houses of Lords standards commissioner dismisses complaint against Lord Kilclooney". The Irish News. December 2017.
- ^ a b "UK Parliament: House of Lords appoints new Commissioners for Standards". Retrieved 8 November 2021.