A prospective peer who is facing a further police probe over a lockdown-breaking party should “look in the mirror and decide whether or not they should accept such awards”, an ex-minister has said.
The Tory former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey was nominated to join the House of Lords by Boris Johnson in his controversial resignation honours list – despite he and his campaign team being pictured at a so-called “jingle and mingle party” in Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) at the height of the pandemic.
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Further questions were raised about his appointment after a video of the event surfaced in the Daily Mirror, showing some of his staff – including Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE in Mr Johnson’s list – dancing, drinking and failing to socially distance in December 2020.
Now the Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is re-opening its investigation into the gathering.
Mr Bailey has previously apologised “unreservedly” for the event, saying the video – in which he does not appear – had made him “very upset”.
And a Conservative Party spokesman said formal disciplinary action had already been taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the campaign.
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But former justice minister, Sir Robert Buckland, told Sky News those implicated in these events should consider whether it is right to accept honours.
He told Kay Burley there was little current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could do now the offers had been made, saying: “Once the system is started, it is very difficult to stop it if all the vetting has taken place.
“But if there is fresh information and important, fresh evidence that really casts more of a cloud over that individual’s reputation, then they should seriously think, at the very least, about not accepting a peerage or accepting an honour.
“Because I think the honours system… needs to have integrity, and these sort of events and incidences can undermine that. And that’s why I think individuals need to think very carefully.”
Sir Robert added: “It is really up to the individuals concerned to look in the mirror and decide whether or not they should accept such awards.”
The Liberal Democrats have already called for Mr Bailey to be prevented from joining the Lords.
“Rishi Sunak needs to confirm he will call for honours to be stripped from anyone found to have broken the law,” said the party’s deputy leader Daisy Cooper.
“Anything less would make a complete mockery of his pledge to lead with integrity.
“He should also step in to stop Shaun Bailey from taking his seat as a peer while this investigation takes place.”
