A former top official of the British Army has been suspended from the House of Lords for four months due to violating lobbying regulations.
Lord Dannatt, a former Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, was discovered to have breached rules prohibiting the exchange of parliamentary services for “payment or reward.” He was caught on camera by undercover reporters, falsely claiming he could arrange meetings with government ministers for a fictitious property development firm.
Upon self-referral to the ethical oversight body, it was revealed that Lord Dannatt had engaged in three additional instances of communicating with ministers or government officials on behalf of companies in which he had a financial interest – UK Nitrogen, Teledyne UK, and Blue International Holdings.
Although no monetary transactions were involved, Lord Dannatt exhibited a clear readiness to undertake actions that could be construed as paid parliamentary services. The Lords Conduct Committee upheld the conclusions and penalties set forth by the independent Commissioner for Standards, resulting in a four-month suspension from the House of Lords.
Acknowledging Lord Dannatt’s remorse and acknowledgment of the potential harm to the House’s reputation, the Committee emphasized the serious nature of the case, citing four separate breaches of the code involving improper interactions with ministers and officials over a two-year period.
In response, Lord Dannatt expressed regret over the Commissioner’s findings, opting not to contest the Committee’s decision but to accept the appropriate punishment. He admitted that his lack of understanding of the Code of Conduct and inadequate disclosure of personal interests were not justifiable, emphasizing that acting in good faith for the national interest did not excuse breaching the code.
Lord Evans of Watford also faced a five-month suspension for violating lobbying rules by offering ministerial access. The Labour peer was accused of offering “cash for access” to undercover journalists posing as potential clients of his son’s company, Affinity, in which he held a one-third stake.
The Commissioner found that Lord Evans had disregarded his personal integrity when suggesting he could introduce the journalists to MPs due to his financial stake in Affinity. Additionally, he sponsored events at the House of Lords on behalf of the company, breaching event rules by selling tickets above cost price and failing to ensure compliance with House regulations.
These suspensions await approval from the House of Lords before taking effect, as neither peer contested the Commissioner’s findings or recommended penalties.