Tory MP Andrew Bridgen suspended from Parliament for lobbying breaches – for 5 days

MPs have approved the suspension of Andrew Bridgen after a standards body blasted his "careless and cavalier attitude" towards the rules. But the sentence is not severe enough to trigger a by-election

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen lost his appeal (

Image: PA)

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen has been suspended from Parliament for five sitting days after breaking lobbying rules in a ‘significant litany of errors’.

The Common Standards Committee found that he had breached the Code of Conduct for MPs "on registration, reporting and paid lobbying on several occasions and in a number of ways".

MPs blasted his 'careless and cavalier attitude' to the rules - and said once he was investigated he tried to 'pressure' the Commissioner for Parliament's standards with a "totally unacceptable attack" on its integrity.

Mr. Bridgen appealed the decision, but his appeal was denied last month.

Standards committee chair Chris Bryant said Mr Bridgen should apologize "as soon as possible after his return".

The November report found that Mr Bridgen had incorrectly mentioned his role as an adviser to logging company Mere Plantations for nearly two years.

The Cheshire-based company took him to their teak plantation in Ghana, offered him a £12,000-a-year consultancy contract and donated £5,000 to his local North Conservative Association West Leicestershire.

Mr. Bridgen wrongly noted his role as an advisor to logging company Mere Plantations for nearly two years, according to a report (

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Yet he breached the rules on 'paid representation' by making five approaches to ministers or civil servants who 'sought to confer an advantage' on the company. He failed to declare his interest in meetings and in eight emails to ministers.

The committee recommended that he be suspended from the House of Commons for five sitting days - two for lobbying lapses and three for his "attack" on the commissioner. He was also told to apologize.

But the suspension is less than the 10 days needed to trigger a recall petition and a by-election.

Mr. Bridgen said in a statement in November, "While I am extremely disappointed with the committee's recommendations, I accept them and will comply with them in doing so."

Mr. Bridgen has been MP for North West Leicestershire since 2010 and is known for lettering...