"The punishments follow official inquiries into their conduct after undercover investigations by the Guardian revealed how the two peers separately offered to make introductions to ministers for a potential commercial client. The conduct was ruled by a parliamentary watchdog to have been lobbying for personal profit behaviour that breaks the fundamental principle that peers should always act solely for the public good."
"Lord Dannatt bragged to the undercover reporters that he would make a point of getting to know the best-placed minister, and make the relevant introduction, while Evans said how it was great being a Labour peer at the moment because we've got our mates who now have senior jobs. Both thought they were speaking to property developers offering a potentially lucrative deal."
Richard Dannatt and David Evans were found to have broken House of Lords rules and face hefty suspensions after undercover investigations revealed they offered to introduce ministers to a potential commercial client. A parliamentary watchdog ruled the conduct amounted to lobbying for personal profit, violating the principle that peers must act solely for the public good. Dannatt said he would get to know the best-placed minister and make introductions; Evans described using party contacts to reach senior jobs. Dannatt had previously lobbied for paying clients, and he expressed regret about findings regarding his personal honour while denying rule breaches.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]