Committee publication · Report · 9 July 2026 · HC 276

1st Report - Dr Peter Prinsley

Summary

The Committee on Standards investigated Dr Peter Prinsley MP for breaching confidentiality rules (paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct) by disclosing details of a Parliamentary Commissioner investigation to the BBC. The Committee found the breach was minor and inadvertent—Prinsley was responding to inaccurate newspaper reporting and was caught unprepared by a journalist's question. No further action is recommended.

Key findings

Dr Prinsley breached paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct by disclosing investigation details to the BBC reporter, confirming what the investigation concerned after inaccurate local press reporting.
The breach was inadvertent: Prinsley was interviewed unexpectedly about a constituency matter when questioned about an inaccurate story; he sought to correct the record without seeking Commissioner permission as required.
Paragraph 123 of the Procedural Protocol permits a public rebuttal of significantly incorrect reporting only with Commissioner approval, which Prinsley did not seek.
The Committee disagreed with the Commissioner's decision to split two related breaches across two decision-makers, arguing both breaches arising from a single incident should have been referred together to the Committee.
Prinsley, elected June 2024 and formerly a doctor, cited inexperience with media aspects of his role and being taken by surprise as contributing factors; he has apologised.

Recommendations

Recommend no further action against Dr Prinsley given the breach was minor, inadvertent, and he has apologised.

Tone

Factual

Topics

parliamentary-conductcode-of-conducttransparency-and-disclosure

Key actors

Dr Peter Prinsley, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (Daniel Greenberg CB), Committee on Standards, Alberto Costa (Chair)

Notable line

“Dr Prinsley ought to have been aware of the need to keep details of the investigation confidential or to seek permission to share them in order to correct misreporting.”

Key Quotes

“My professional background has trained me to be direct and transparent in my answers, but I accept that in this context I might perhaps have responded more cautiously and with greater restraint.”
— Dr Peter Prinsley · Reflecting on his media handling and lack of experience as a newly elected MP

“I was taken by surprise and indeed concerned by this utterly fabricated accusation, which led me to speak at greater length than I should have done.”
— Dr Peter Prinsley · Explaining his response to the BBC journalist's unexpected question about inaccurate reporting

“It is clear that Dr Prinsley did breach paragraph 13 of the Code by sharing with a news reporter details of the investigation into his breach of paragraph 6 of the Code while that investigation remained under way.”
— Committee on Standards · Committee's factual finding on the confidentiality breach

“While any attempt to breach confidentiality to influence an investigation should be deprecated, it is clear that Dr Prinsley had no such intention.”
— Committee on Standards · Assessing Dr Prinsley's motives and the severity of the breach

“I accept Mr Prinsley's account that this was in response to inaccurate press reporting, which is supported by the correction printed in the Bury St Edmunds Mercury.”
— Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards · Commissioner's assessment of the circumstances and context for the disclosure

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗