It has been determined that former health secretary Matt Hancock violated Parliament’s regulations by attempting to influence an investigation into a Conservative MP.
A watchdog charged Mr. Hancock with apologising for the “minor breach.”
Mr. Hancock penned a letter defending the Conservative member of parliament Steve Brine, who was under investigation for lobbying allegations.
Mr. Hancock denied attempting to influence the investigation conducted by the standards commissioner of Parliament.
Monday, however, the Commons Committee on Standards published a report stating that Mr. Hancock had “clearly attempted to influence the investigation of the commissioner.”
The committee determined that Mr. Hancock had violated a rule prohibiting MPs from influencing the commissioner in a manner “calculated or intended to influence his consideration”.
Although Mr. Hancock did not intend to violate the rules, had no expectation of personal gain from writing the letter, and “not act with malice” according to the committee, he “has still not admitted his error.”
“Mr Hancock is a former cabinet minister and has been an MP for over 10 years,” the committee’s report said. “It is concerning that a member with this experience has not taken account of these provisions of the code.”
The committee recommended that Mr. Hancock apologise to the House of Commons and to Daniel Greenberg, the standards commissioner, in a personal statement.
He should also attend a “briefing on his obligations under the code with the commissioner”, the committee’s report said.
MPs are expected to behave within rules set out in a code of conductapproved by the Commons, and any alleged breaches can be investigated by the standards commissioner.
