Three MPs, including former health secretary Matt Hancock, are under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog.
Scott Benton – who was recently caught in an undercover sting operation showing a willingness to lobby on behalf of the gambling industry – is also facing a probe, as is Henry Smith, the Conservative MP for Crawley.
Mr Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, is under investigation over the use of his parliamentary email address, while Mr Smith is also being investigated – for his use of parliamentary stationery provided by the public purse.
Meanwhile, Mr Hancock – who currently sits as an independent MP in the Commons following his appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – has been accused of lobbying parliament’s standards commissioner “in a manner calculated or intended to influence his consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred”.
Daniel Greenberg was appointed as the new independent standards commissioner last year and took over from his predecessor, Kathryn Stone, in January.
The standards commissioner is responsible for investigating any potential breaches of the House of Commons’ code of conduct, which governs how MPs should behave.
MPs are told in the code of conduct that “excepting modest and reasonable personal use, members must ensure that the use of facilities and services provided to them by parliament, including an office, is in support of their parliamentary activities, and is in accordance with all relevant rules”.
Read more politics news:
Starmer makes ‘no apologies’ for attack ads
Sunak says UK-US relationship in ‘great shape’
They are also told that they must “not lobby a member of the Committee on Standards, the Independent Expert Panel or the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, or their staff, in a manner calculated or intended to influence their consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred, or in relation to the imposition of a sanction”.
A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: “Mr Hancock is shocked and surprised by the investigation. Far from lobbying the commissioner, Matt wrote to Mr Greenberg in good faith to offer some additional evidence that he thought was not only pertinent but helpful for an inquiry the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is currently conducting.
“It’s clearly a misunderstanding and Matt looks forward to fully engaging with the Commissioner to clear this up.”
Mr Benton had the Tory whip suspended earlier this month after an undercover investigation by the Times newspaper showed him offering to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors in exchange for money.
Mr Benton ultimately did not accept any financial payment arising from the meeting and there is no suggestion he broke any parliamentary rules as a result.
However, during the course of the video captured by the Times, the Conservative MP showed a willingness to break parliamentary rules and leak the government’s long-awaited gambling review.
