Don’t suspend too many MPS, says standards tsar

FEWER MPS should be suspended from the House of Commons for wrongdoing, Parliament’s incoming standards tsar has said, as he warned MPS against using the power too often.

Daniel Greenberg said that the standards committee which oversees the rules should think “very, very carefully” about how often it chooses to punish MPS with a suspension.

Mr Greenberg warned it may be seen as undemocratic for a committee with a small number of people to suspend an MP who has been elected to Parliament by voters in their constituency.

Mr Greenberg will become the parliamentary standards commissioner in January, with responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the MPS’ code of conduct.

He takes over from Kathryn Stone, who faced criticism from some Tory MPS for taking a hardline approach when investigating wrongdoing.

Boris Johnson could be the next MP facing suspension from the Commons over partygate if the privileges committee finds that he misled Parliament.

It could recommend that he is suspended from the Commons, which in turn could trigger a recall petition and by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Under the rules, the commissioner investigates allegations and then a wider committee made up of MPS and laymen decides a punishment. All MPS must then approve the proposed punishment for it to come into effect.

One of the most severe forms of punishment is suspending MPS for a number of days.

Nine MPS have been recommended for suspension since the summer of 2017. Mr Greenberg stressed how serious a sanction suspension was and urged caution for the future.

Mr Greenberg said: “Suspension has to be used proportionately. We aren’t going to suspend everyone every time.