Committee publication · Report · 11 December 2025 · HC 1571

6th Report - Influencing Code of Conduct investigations

Government response deadline: 11 February 2026

Summary

The Committee on Standards has published a brief report on Calvin Bailey MP's breach of Rule 14 of the Code of Conduct. On 24 September, Bailey wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in an attempt to influence an ongoing investigation into another Member's conduct. The Committee agrees this was a breach, accepts Bailey's apology and withdrawal of the letter, and finds no further action necessary, deeming the breach minor and inadvertent.

Key findings

Calvin Bailey MP breached Rule 14 of the Code of Conduct by lobbying the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in relation to an ongoing investigation into another Member's conduct.
Bailey's breach was characterised as minor and inadvertent; he has apologised, accepted responsibility, and withdrawn his letter.
The Committee is publishing only a brief report at this stage to avoid breaching confidentiality of the unresolved case Bailey attempted to influence; full findings will be published once that case concludes.
The Committee reminds all Members that seeking to influence the outcome of an investigation constitutes a breach of Rule 14.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

parliamentary-conductcode-of-conductstandards-regulation

Key actors

Calvin Bailey, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Committee on Standards, Alberto Costa

Notable line

“Members must not lobby a member of the Committee on Standards, the Independent Expert Panel or the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, or their staff, in a manner calculated or intended to influence their consideration of whether a breach of the Code of Conduct has occurred, or in relation to the imposition of a sanction.”

Key Quotes

“We agree that Mr Bailey breached the rule. Mr Bailey has accepted that, has apologised to the Commissioner and has sought to withdraw his letter.”
— Committee on Standards · Establishing Bailey's breach and response

“We concur, however, with the Commissioner's view that the breach is minor and inadvertent. Mr Bailey's action, no matter how well intentioned, was muddled and clearly inappropriate.”
— Committee on Standards · Characterising the nature of Bailey's breach

“We consider that no further action is necessary in relation to Calvin Bailey's breach of Rule 14 of the Code.”
— Committee on Standards · Conclusion and determination

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗