Tory MP Bridgen to fight possible suspensionon November 27, 2022 at 12:47 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The cross-party committee found Andrew Bridgen had displayed a “very cavalier” attitude to the rules.

Andrew BridgenImage source, Getty Images

A Conservative MP is appealing against a recommendation to suspend him from the House of Commons for breaking lobbying rules.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, was found to have breached the MPs’ code of conduct earlier this month.

The Commons Standards Committee said he had displayed a “very cavalier” attitude to the rules.

The Speaker of the House has received a letter confirming Mr Bridgen’s appeal.

The cross-party committee found the MP breached lobbying rules “on multiple occasions and in multiple ways” and called for him to be suspended from the Commons for five days.

Standards Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone

It said the offences included an “unacceptable attack upon the integrity” of Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone.

It was recommended he be suspended for three days for this – in addition to two days for three breaches of the code of conduct, including failing to declare a relevant interest in emails to ministers.

The committee said Mr Bridgen should have told ministers and officials he received a donation and a funded visit to Ghana from the Cheshire-based firm Mere Plantations, and had a £12,000 contract to be an adviser.

The backbencher had previously said he was “extremely disappointed” and initially accepted the committee’s findings, adding he would “comply with them as required to do so”.

However, a letter to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed the appeal after he extended the deadline to launch an appeal by a week.

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Romsey industrial estate blaze involving 35,000 tonnes of wasteon July 24, 2021 at 9:59 am

Residents near the blaze at Yokesford Hill Industrial Estate are advised to shut their windows.

Winter Olympics: Casey Dawson competes after 45 PCR tests, and on borrowed skateson February 8, 2022 at 1:34 pm

After 45 PCR tests in three weeks and a frantic race around the globe, Casey Dawson finally realises his Olympic dream.

England’s Leach given ‘a hospital pass’ – Tufnellon December 9, 2021 at 2:06 pm

England spinner Jack Leach should not be playing in the first Ashes Test and has been given "a hospital pass", says former spinner Phil...

UK heatwave: Hottest day of the year again for third day in a rowon June 17, 2022 at 3:10 pm

Britons enjoy the heatwave and take to the beach as temperatures in the UK reach record levels.Image source, PA MediaIt has been the hottest...

How green was the COP26 climate summit?on November 11, 2021 at 11:11 pm

A report has suggested the carbon footprint of the Glasgow summit is more than double that of COP25.