Tory MP Andrew Bridgen should be suspended for threatening commissioner, Standards Committee recommends
A Tory MP should be suspended from the Commons for suggesting the standards commissioner’s potential peerage depended on ruling against him over lobbying breaches, the Standards Committee has recommended
Andrew Bridgen should be suspended for five sitting days, the parliamentary committee that oversees the work of the standards commissioner said.
The committee found the MP had breached the Code of Conduct by making multiple approaches to ministers and public officials on behalf of Mere Plantations, a Cheshire-based teak reforestation company with forests in Ghana for which he was initially paid £12,000 a year as an adviser.
He failed to register his interest in the company in the time frame stipulated by the code, with the committee saying he had a “very cavalier” attitude to the rules.
The committee also found Mr Bridgen, the MP for North West Leicestershire since 2010, had attempted to improperly influence Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone during her investigation into his lobbying.
He emailed the commissioner shortly after the investigation started and implied she could be swayed with a peerage as he claimed he heard a “rumour” she would only receive one if she ruled against him because he was an outspoken critic of then prime minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Bridgen faces a suspension of two days for three breaches of the MPs’ code of conduct and a further three for the “unacceptable attack upon the integrity” on Ms Stone. MPs will now have to vote on whether they accept that recommendation.
Mr Bridgen was accused of ‘attacking’ Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone. Pic: Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
‘Unacceptable behaviour’
The MP wrote to Ms Stone: “I was distressed to hear on a number of occasions an unsubstantiated rumour that your contract as Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is due to end in the coming months and that there are advanced plans to offer you a peerage, potentially as soon as the prime minister’s resignation honours list.
“There is also some suggestion amongst colleagues that those plans are dependent upon arriving at the ‘right’ outcomes when conducting parliamentary standards investigation.
“Clearly my own travails with Number 10 and the former PM have been well documented and obviously a small part of me is naturally concerned to hear such rumours.
“I do apologise if you find the contents of this letter offensive, it is certainly not my intention, but I would be grateful if you would provide me reassurance that you are not about to be offered an honour or peerage and that the rumours are indeed malicious and baseless.”
He told the committee the email was purely “seeking assurance” but they dismissed that and said he “clearly did not need to seek official reassurance from anyone about rumours that he himself described as ‘unsubstantiated’ and likely ‘malicious and baseless'”.
They said he failed to apologise for the email or acknowledge he should not have emailed the commissioner as he did.
The committee added Mr Bridgen’s email “appears to be an attempt to place wholly inappropriate pressure on the Commissioner. This was completely unacceptable behaviour”.
Andrew Bridgen was a fierce critic of Boris Johnson
Significant litany of errors
On the lobbying breaches, the committee said Mr Bridgen should have told ministers and officials he received a donation to the North West Leicestershire Conservative Association and a funded visit to Ghana from Mere Plantations as well as the £12,000 adviser contract.
Mr Bridgen told the committee he decided to not take payment from the company or to undertake his duties a year and a half after accepting the role, but the committee said he did not amend the contract or have any written exchange with the company to confirm that.
He was found to have committed a “significant litany of errors” by failing to declare his interest in the company in eight emails to ministers, and in five meetings with ministers or public officials about carbon offsetting that would financially or materially benefit Mere Plantations.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr Bridgen said: “Whilst I am extremely disappointed with the recommendations of the committee, I accept them and will comply with them as required to do so.”
Former deputy prime minister Sir Oliver Dowden has become the most senior ally of Rishi Sunak to be interviewed in the official investigation into betting on the date of the general election, Sky News understands.
He follows Mr Sunak’s former parliamentary aide Craig Williams and former Downing Street chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith in being questioned by the Gambling Commission, the statutory body that regulates betting in the UK.
Mr Sunak has not yet been interviewed, Sky News understands, though “numerous people” including Conservative Party officials have been.
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A source close to Sir Oliver said the former senior cabinet minister is not and was never under investigation himself.
It is understood Sir Oliver spoke to the police to assist with their inquiries as part of their investigation into others. This is said to have taken place in early summertime and the officers involved were part of the Gambling Commission.
The inquiry – launched in June – is set to continue for another three to six months.
News of Sir Oliver’s interview, along with the seizing of “hundreds of documents” from Tory HQ by the commission, has emerged on the day the Conservative Party Conference opened in Birmingham.
Ironically, the Gambling Commission’s head office, on the fourth floor of Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, is just a half-mile, 10-minute walk from the ICC, where the Tory conference is taking place.
Sir Oliver was knighted and Mr Booth-Smith was awarded a peerage in the former prime minister’s dissolution honours, announced less than an hour before the polls closed on 4 July.
The commission is investigating whether bets were placed on a July election by people with inside knowledge – in breach of gambling rules – in the days leading up to Mr Sunak’s shock announcement of the election date on 22 May.
A source told Sky News: “The general election betting investigation is still ongoing. Hundreds of documents have been seized by the Gambling Commission from CCHQ.
“The Gambling Commission has also employed more ex-police as investigators to take the case forward. It’s expected the case will continue for three to six months.”
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Gambling scandal: Another bruise for the Tories?
Asked if Mr Sunak has been interviewed, the source said: “I don’t believe so. Numerous people have been interviewed, in and out of CCHQ.
“Gambling Commission investigators have made numerous visits to CCHQ. Oliver Dowden was interviewed.”
What is the election betting scandal?
The election date betting scandal began in June when Craig Williams, formerly MP for Montgomeryshire and Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, admitted he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission.
Mr Williams had placed a £100 bet on a July election at Ladbrokes in his constituency just days before Mr Sunak announced on 22 May that the election would be held on 4 July. Based on odds at the time, he would have won £500.
“I put a flutter on the General Election some weeks ago,” he said in a post on X on 13 June. “This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully co-operate with these.
“I don’t want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks.”
The commission is investigating whether bets were placed on a July election. Pic: Reuters
Mr Williams, who admitted he had made a “huge error”, was dropped by the Tories as their candidate in the new seat of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr but remained on the ballot paper, but was defeated, coming third behind Labour and Reform UK.
As the Gambling Commission proceeded, Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, who was Tory candidate for Bristol North West, were placed under investigation.
In a statement on the day news of the investigation was first reported, Saunders said she would be “cooperating with the Gambling Commission”, while Lee took a leave of absence from his role.
Then Nick Mason, the party’s chief data officer, became the fourth Conservative candidate or official to be investigated. He took a leave of absence and denied any wrongdoing.
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In a bizarre twist, a Labour candidate in the election, Kevin Craig, was then suspended by his party after betting against himself and the Gambling Commission launched an investigation into him.
Mr Craig, candidate in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, posted on X that he had “enjoyed the odd bet for fun” throughout his life.
“A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities,” he said.
“While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Craig Williams admitted to betting on the election date. Pic: PA
Then on 27 June Sky News revealed that Mr Booth-Smith, then Mr Sunak’s most senior adviser in Downing Street, had been interviewed by senior Gambling Commission officials and questioned about who knew about the timing of the election.
Sources emphasised, however, that Mr Booth-Smith was not a suspect and was interviewed as a witness and was “asked for help”.
Sky News has approached Mr Dowden and the Conservative Party for comment.
Fresh weather warnings have been issued for heavy rain, with some areas already saturated by earlier downpours to be hit.
Parts of the country saw more than the monthly average rainfall on Monday, while some counties in southern and central England have already had more than 250% of their September average, according to the Met Office.
Yellow weather warnings for wind and rain came into force on Sunday, while two fresh yellow warnings have been issued for heavy rain next week.
Sunday’s warning, meaning further heavy rain is likely to cause some travel delays and flooding, covers much of southern England and South Wales between 4pm on Sunday and 9am on Monday.
Between 20mm to 30mm of rainfall could be seen over nine to 12 hours, with up to 80mm in some localised places on higher ground.
The Environment Agency has issued 33 flood warnings, indicating flooding is expected, and 67 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, in place across England on Sunday afternoon.
Weather warnings issued for Monday. Pic: Met Office
Mark Garratt, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said rain expected on Sunday and Monday will bring a risk of surface water flooding in large parts of the southwest and southern England, spreading up into the Midlands, and on Monday, flooding in parts of Leicestershire is also possible.
He said: “It is especially important that people do not drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.
“Across the country, Environment Agency teams have been out checking flood defences and clearing any debris from storm drains and are also supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.
“The advice to the public to keep checking their flood risk, and search ‘check for flooding’ and to sign up for free flood warnings on the latest situation or follow @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates.”
Check latest weather forecast where you are
A yellow warning for wind is in place across southwest England and Wales between 9am on Sunday until the end of the day.
Gusts of between 50mph and 60mph could be seen, with large waves, trees brought down, travel disruption and some power cuts.
Fresh rain warnings issued
Rain warnings cover eastern England between 8am on Monday and 3am on Tuesday, and North Wales and northwest England between 12.30am and 8pm on Monday.
Both forecast between 20mm and 40mm of rainfall widely, with 60mm possible in a few places across North Wales and northwest England and between 60mm to 80mm in some areas in eastern England.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said they are expecting some “pretty heavy persistent rain” across North Wales and northwest England.
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The higher ground in eastern England will see the most rainfall. Areas including Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire will see less rainfall, but are already saturated by recent heavy rain.
It comes after areas across England suffered heavy rain and localised flooding in recent days, with commuters facing widespread disruption on road and rail services.
About 650 properties were flooded in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the home counties, according to the Environment Agency, which estimated around 8,200 properties had been protected.
By Tuesday night, higher pressure will move in, meaning a drier, sunnier spell, Mr Eslick said.
“Come Tuesday night into Wednesday we’re starting to see higher pressure, so turning a lot drier and plenty of sunny spells,” he said.
“But the following weekend, it does look like there’s a further low pressure coming in, but we’re still keeping an eye on that.”
Lewis Hamilton has said he has struggled with his mental health “for much of his life”, and blames the pressure of motor racing and bullying that he suffered at school.
Hamilton, 39, is one of the most successful Formula One (F1) drivers in history, having won a joint-record seven world titles.
The racer, who was born in Stevenage, has won more F1 races (105) than anyone else and also holds the records for most pole positions (104), and podium (top three) finishes (201).
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. File pic: PA
But despite his career successes, he told The Sunday Times he had “some really difficult phases” during his 20s, admitting he has “struggled with mental health through my life”.
“[I’ve had] depression. From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to,” he said.
His life changed, he revealed, during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when, following a period of soul-searching, he began waking up at 5am to meditate before going for a run.
Despite initially struggling to find peace, he said the new routine was “a really great way of getting in touch with myself, my inner feelings, understanding what I can do”.
Asked if he has ever seen a therapist, Hamilton replied: “I spoke to one woman, years ago, but that wasn’t really helpful. I would like to find someone today.”
Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the British Grand Prix. Pic: PA
Hamilton, who earlier this season became the oldest driver to win a Formula One race in the 21st century, will not add to his tally of championship titles this year.
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With six races remaining, the Mercedes driver is sixth in the standings but trails the championship leader, Max Verstappen, by 157 points with only 150 left to win.
He will move to Ferrari at the end of this season after 12 years with Mercedes.
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