Matt Hancock amongst three MPs below investigation by Commons watchdog

Three MPs, together with former well being secretary Matt Hancock, are below investigation by parliament’s requirements watchdog.

Scott Benton – who was just lately caught in an undercover sting operation displaying a willingness to foyer on behalf of the playing business – can be going through a probe, as is Henry Smith, the Conservative MP for Crawley.

Mr Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, is below investigation over the usage of his parliamentary e-mail tackle, whereas Mr Smith can be being investigated – for his use of parliamentary stationery offered by the general public purse.

Meanwhile, Mr Hancock – who at the moment sits as an unbiased MP within the Commons following his look on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – has been accused of lobbying parliament’s requirements commissioner “in a manner calculated or intended to influence his consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred”.

Daniel Greenberg was appointed as the brand new unbiased requirements commissioner final 12 months and took over from his predecessor, Kathryn Stone, in January.

The requirements commissioner is accountable for investigating any potential breaches of the House of Commons’ code of conduct, which governs how MPs ought to behave.

MPs are instructed within the code of conduct that “excepting modest and reasonable personal use, members must ensure that the use of facilities and services provided to them by parliament, including an office, is in support of their parliamentary activities, and is in accordance with all relevant rules”.

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They are additionally instructed that they need to “not lobby a member of the Committee on Standards, the Independent Expert Panel or the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, or their staff, in a manner calculated or intended to influence their consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred, or in relation to the imposition of a sanction”.

A spokesperson for Mr Hancock stated: “Mr Hancock is shocked and surprised by the investigation. Far from lobbying the commissioner, Matt wrote to Mr Greenberg in good faith to offer some additional evidence that he thought was not only pertinent but helpful for an inquiry the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is currently conducting.

“It’s clearly a misunderstanding and Matt appears ahead to totally participating with the Commissioner to clear this up.”

Mr Benton had the Tory whip suspended earlier this month after an undercover investigation by the Times newspaper showed him offering to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors in exchange for money.

Mr Benton ultimately did not accept any financial payment arising from the meeting and there is no suggestion he broke any parliamentary rules as a result.

However, during the course of the video captured by the Times, the Conservative MP showed a willingness to break parliamentary rules and leak the government’s long-awaited playing assessment.