Two Lords Recommended for Suspension After Probe Finds They Offered Parliamentary Services for Reward

Summary: The Lords Conduct Committee has recommended suspensions for Lord Richard Dannatt (four months) and Lord David Evans (five months) after upholding findings that both breached the House of Lords Code of Conduct by showing willingness to provide parliamentary services in return for payment or reward. The recommendations now require approval by the full House of Lords.

Committee findings and next steps

The Lords Conduct Committee published reports backing the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards' findings. The committee concluded both peers failed to act on their "personal honour as required by the Code" and recommended suspensions of four months for Lord Dannatt and five months for Lord Evans. Both peers declined to appeal the findings; the sanctions must be approved by the full House of Lords.

Lord Richard Dannatt

Lord Richard Dannatt, an independent peer appointed in 2011 and a retired Army chief, served a 40-year military career after joining in 1971 and was awarded the Military Cross for operations in Northern Ireland. The commissioner found that Lord Dannatt corresponded with ministers and government officials about three companies in which he had a financial interest: UK Nitrogen, Teledyne UK and Blue International Holdings.

Although the commissioner concluded that no paid lobbying had taken place and no payment was received, the report said Lord Dannatt demonstrated "a clear willingness to undertake activity that would have amounted to paid parliamentary services" and showed insufficient regard for acting solely in the public interest during his parliamentary activities.

Lord David Evans

Lord David Evans, styled Lord Evans of Watford, is a businessman who served as general secretary of the Labour Party. He was nominated for a life peerage and introduced to the House of Lords earlier this year.

The commissioner found Lord Evans breached rules by sponsoring events held in Parliament for Affinity, a company linked to his family in which he previously held a one-third share. He invited other peers to speak at those events and told undercover journalists he could introduce them to government ministers. The report also found tickets were advertised at prices above the actual per-person cost, contrary to House of Lords rules on hosting events.

Lord Evans has stated he did not expect to benefit financially from the events, saying he resigned from Affinity and transferred his shares to his son in 2013. He has described the situation as "horrifying" and maintains he has not acted improperly.

Origins of the inquiries

The investigations followed an undercover enquiry in which journalists posed as property developers seeking introductions to ministers. Those interactions prompted the Commissioner's inquiries that led to the committee reports. Both reports emphasise that while no payments were proven, the peers' conduct fell short of the standards expected under the Code.

What happens now

The recommended suspensions must be approved by the full House of Lords before they take effect. The committee's findings underscore the Lords' rules prohibiting the provision of parliamentary services in return for payment or reward and the strict expectations around sponsoring events in parliamentary premises.