Two peers face suspension from House of Lords

Two peers are set to be suspended from the House of Lords for breaching rules on providing parliamentary services in return for “payment or reward”.

Former Army chief Lord Richard Dannatt and businessman Lord Evans of Watford face suspensions of four and five months respectively.

The House of Lords’ standards watchdog launched separate investigations into the two men following an undercover operation by the Guardian newspaper.

Neither peer appealed the standard commissioner’s findings or the sanctions, which will come into force once approved by the House of Lords.

In the course of his investigation, the standards commissioner found that crossbench peer Lord Dannatt had breached the code of conduct by corresponding with ministers and government officials about three companies – UK Nitrgoen, Teledyne UK and Blue International Holdings – in which he had a financial interest.

The commissioner also identified four ways in which Labour peer Lord Evans had broken the rules including by sponsoring events in Parliament for a company that was owned by his son, and in which he held one-third of the shares.