Since 2010 the United Kingdom House of Lords has had a post of House of Lords Commissioner for Standards. There was originally a single commissioner who was "responsible for the independent and impartial investigation of alleged breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct". In 2021 the decision was made to appoint two commissioners: Akbar Khan and Martin Jelley. Khan left in 2024 to take up a post in the judiciary, apparently leaving Jelley as the sole commissioner pending Margaret Obi taking up her appointment in 2025. Jelley's term ends in 2026.
Duties of the commissioners include investigating potential misuse of expenses and parliamentary facilities. Members' opinions, or the way they express themselves, do not fall within the scope of the code.
Past commissioners Paul Kernaghan was appointed in 2010 as the first commissioner. Kernaghan previously had a police career culminating in a nine-year period as Chief Constable of Hampshire until 2008, followed by service as Head of Mission for the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories. Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, a former president of The Law Society, was appointed for five years from 1 June 2016. Akbar Khan was appointed with Martin Jelley in 2021, but stepped down in 2024.
Investigations +Reports by the House of Lords Commissioner for StandardsName of peerDateAllegationResultLord Richards of HerstmonceuxFebruary 2017Minor breach (non-declaration of relevant interest)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ ConductLord TopeFebruary 2019Improper use of House of Lords facilitiesComplaint dismissedLord Barker of BattleFebruary 2019Payment for providing parliamentary advice or services Paid advocacy on behalf of Russian companiesComplaints dismissedLord Fairfax of CameronLord HainApril 2019Violation of the sub judice resolution Paid advocacy Abuse of parliamentary privilege by naming Philip GreenComplaint dismissedLord Singh of WimbledonApril 2019Non-registration and non-declaration of a relevant interestComplaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ ConductLord DebenJune 2019Inaccurate descriptions of interests Non-declaration of relevant interestsComplaints dismissedBaroness MeacherJune 2019Non-declaration of relevant interest (Chair of Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.Lord Stone of BlackheathOctober 2019Harassment (Sexual and transphobic)Complaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidentsLord Black of BrentwoodDecember 2019Insufficient description of the role of company Failure to declare relevant interestComplaints upheld.
Required to amend company description Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct Lord Lea of CrondallJanuary 2020Harassment and discrimination based on age and sexComplaint upheld. Required to take bespoke training to cover the incidentsLord Stevens of KirkwhelpingtonFebruary 2020Failure to declare nature of consultancy work performed by one of Lord Stevens' companies Failure to declare company that Lord Stevens held significant control overComplaints upheld.
Required to correct register of interests Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' Conduct Baroness MeacherJune 2020Improper of House of Lords stationery on non-parliamentary activity (Dignity in Dying)Complaint upheld. Formal apology to Sub-Committee on Lords’ Conduct.Lord Smith of KelvinJune 2020Failure to declare companies of which Lord Smith is a Director.Complaints upheld.
Required to correct register of interests Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' ConductLord AdonisJune 2020Failure to declare his interest as Non-Executive Director of HS2 Ltd Failure to declare a non-financial interest and advisory board position in the member's register of interestsComplaints upheld.
Required to correct register of interests Formal apology to the Sub-Committee on Lords' ConductParticipation in the High Speed Rail (London–West Midlands) Bill without making relevant declarationsComplaint dismissed.Lord Stone of BlackheathJuly 2020Harassment and discrimination based on religion, age and sexComplaints upheld.
Required to continue attending training courses Referral to the Lords' Standards Committee for further potential sanctionsLord Lea of CrondallAugust 2020BullyingComplaints upheld.
Required to continue attending training courses Written apology to the victimBenedict Rich (staff of Lord Lansley)October 2020Not specifying the consultancy work done in the register of interests.Complaints upheld. Required to correct register of interest.Use of position in the House of Lords for the purpose of lobbyingComplaint dismissed.Lord AhmedNovember 2020Sexual misconduct RacismThe Committee recommended expulsion from the House of Lords. Lord Ahmed resigned prior to any sanctions being given.
See also Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
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