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 reportI 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…
Tory MP Miriam Cates, co-chair of the New Conservatives, was placed under investigation by the Commons Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg on the 14th December. This happens when there are claims an MP brought “significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its members generally“. There are no more details currently…
It’s the third anniversary of the lockdown birthday bash in the Commons – a party Guido revealed this summer, hosted by Commons Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing for her dear friend Anne Jenkin. Bernard Jenkin, of Liaison and Privileges Committee fame, attended the celebration. As if it were fate, on the same day three years later, it’s confirmed that Jenkin is under investigation by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner. He won’t be celebrating now…
The Met closed its investigation today, informing the partygoers that there will be no further action – something that many will consider unfairly lenient. Consequently, the Standards Commissioner can now commence its own inquiry. Last year, Jenkin voted to expel Boris Johnson from Parliament over his partygate scandal, asserting to the Privilege Committee, “the rules were clear—they were there for everyone, and no one is above the law.” Following our scoop, Boris sent Guido a statement, urging Jenkin to resign over the matter. He’ll be waiting with bated breath for the Commissioner’s conclusion…
Read the Met’s statement in full below:
Harriet Harman has been elected Chair of the Commons Standards Committee, replacing Chris Bryant after his appointment to the Shadow Cabinet. Liam Byrne has also been elected chair of the Business and Trade Committee (despite his two-day bullying suspension last year), with Cat Smith becoming Petitions Committee chair. Here’s the vote breakdown:
Harman filled in for Bryant to lead the Kangaroo Court earlier this year. Look how that turned out…
Chris Bryant has rejoined the Labour front bench after seven years out in the cold, with Sir Keir this morning appointing him Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital across both DCMS and the Science Department. This of course means the Standards Committee will need a new Chair. Some big shoes to fill for whoever steps up: after all, Bryant has even written a whole book about standards in Parliament. Still nothing on whether he’ll apologise to Farage for claiming he’d taken £500,000 from Russia…
The appointment is also bit of a surprise. Just a few months ago, Sir Chris applied for a £105,000-a-year job at Oxford University, and it was presumed he was standing down in 2024. Perhaps a front bench offer will encourage him to stick around a bit longer…
A year has passed since Chris Pincher’s Carlton Club misconduct kicked off a government crisis and the Standards Committee has just now published a report into the situation. The committee recommends Pincher be given an eight week Commons suspension which, if approved, would be enough to trigger a recall petition and then a by-election in his Tamworth seat. Although it looks solid blue on paper, Labour would definitely fancy their chances…
Read the report in full below:
