The Parliamentary authorities have launched a ‘leak investigation’ after the Appeal Report on recently suspended MP Scott Benton was leaked ahead of its official publication. Guido published the leak of the decision…

Ironically, the Appeal Report itself denied the existence of leaks at previous stages of the investigation. Guido’s got a hold of the leak of the the email:

Subject: Leak inquiry – Scott Benton Appeal

I know you are aware of leaks on the report yesterday. After discussion with the Chair of the Panel, we are conducting a leak inquiry. This includes emailing everyone who had access to an embargoed copy or the report or knowledge of the decision and/or publication timing.

In advance of the report being published, we identified that the following occurred:

Politico reported in Playbook (20.2.24) that ‘it’s “likely” the result of Scott Benton’s appeal against his proposed 35-day suspension from the House of Commons will be published today’.
Aubrey Allegretti at the Times tweeted that he had been ‘told a report into Scott Benton, dismissing his appeal against a 35-day suspension after a Times investigation, is likely to drop later this morning’.
Guido published an article reporting the sub-panel’s decision which included an extract of the report

I am writing formally to you, as I have to all others who had access to or knowledge of the report, to ask you to confirm in writing whether you had, ahead of the report being published:

(1) Spoken with anyone about this case (and if so what information was shared)
(2) Shared the embargoed report (and if so, with who)

Please respond by midday on Friday 23 February.

As before, please do feel free to give me a call or email if you have any questions about process or if you’d like to discuss.

Many thanks

Senior Clerk | Journal Office | Centre of Excellence for Procedural Practice | Deputy, Independent Expert Panel |House of Commons

Benton said:

“It goes without saying that the Standards process is designed to be open, fair, honest and transparent so the public and MPs can have trust in it. How can you have faith in standards process which  doesn’t adhere to its own ethics, standards and principles?” 

Leaks are commonplace in Westminster, though investigating how a report was leaked which denied leaks taking place is a new low…