House of Lords Commissioner for Standards

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Since 2010 the United Kingdom House of Lords has had a post of House of Lords Commissioner for Standards. There was originally a single commissioner who was "responsible for the independent and impartial investigation of alleged breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct". In 2021 the decision was made to appoint two commissioners: Akbar Khan and Martin Jelley. Khan left in 2024 to take up a post in the judiciary, apparently leaving Jelley as the sole commissioner pending Margaret Obi taking up her appointment in 2025. Jelley's term ends in 2026. [1]

Contents

Duties of the commissioners include investigating potential misuse of expenses and parliamentary facilities. [2] Members' opinions, or the way they express themselves, do not fall within the scope of the code. [3]

Past commissioners

Investigations

Reports by the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards
Name of peerDateAllegationResult
Lord Richards of Herstmonceux February 2017Minor breach (non-declaration of relevant interest)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct
Lord Tope February 2019Improper use of House of Lords facilitiesComplaint dismissed
Lord Barker of Battle February 2019Payment for providing parliamentary advice or services

Paid advocacy on behalf of Russian companies

Complaints dismissed
Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Lord Hain April 2019Violation of the sub judice resolution

Paid advocacy Abuse of parliamentary privilege by naming Philip Green

Complaint dismissed
Lord Singh of Wimbledon April 2019Non-registration and non-declaration of a relevant interestComplaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct
Lord Deben June 2019Inaccurate descriptions of interests

Non-declaration of relevant interests

Complaints dismissed
Baroness Meacher June 2019Non-declaration of relevant interest (Chair of Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.
Lord Stone of Blackheath October 2019Harassment (Sexual and transphobic)Complaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents
Lord Black of Brentwood December 2019Insufficient description of the role of company

Failure to declare relevant interest

Complaints upheld.
  • Required to amend company description
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Lord Lea of Crondall January 2020Harassment and discrimination based on age and sexComplaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidents
Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington February 2020Failure to declare nature of consultancy work performed by one of Lord Stevens' companies

Failure to declare company that Lord Stevens held significant control over

Complaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Baroness Meacher June 2020Improper of House of Lords stationery on non-parliamentary activity (Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.
Lord Smith of Kelvin June 2020Failure to declare companies of which Lord Smith is a Director.Complaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Lord Adonis June 2020Failure to declare his interest as Non-Executive Director of HS2 Ltd

Failure to declare a non-financial interest and advisory board position in the member's register of interests

Complaints upheld.
  • Required to correct register of interests
  • Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct
Participation in the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill without making relevant declarationsComplaint dismissed.
Lord Stone of Blackheath July 2020Harassment and discrimination based on religion, age and sexComplaints upheld.
  • Required to continue attending training courses
  • Referral to the Lords' Standards Committee for further potential sanctions
Lord Lea of Crondall August 2020BullyingComplaints upheld.
  • Required to continue attending training courses
  • Written apology to the victim
Benedict Rich (staff of Lord Lansley)October 2020Not specifying the consultancy work done in the register of interests.Complaints upheld. Required to correct register of interest.
Use of position in the House of Lords for the purpose of lobbyingComplaint dismissed.
Lord Ahmed November 2020Sexual misconduct

Racism

The Committee recommended expulsion from the House of Lords. Lord Ahmed resigned prior to any sanctions being given.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Commissioner for Standards". Hansard. 2025.
  2. "Lords Commissioner". parliament website. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  3. "Houses of Lords standards commissioner dismisses complaint against Lord Kilclooney". The Irish News . December 2017.
  4. 1 2 "UK Parliament: House of Lords appoints new Commissioners for Standards" . Retrieved 8 November 2021.