Three Tory MPs face suspension over 'attempt to influence judicial proceedings'

Theresa Villiers, Natalie Elphicke, Sir Roger Gale, Adam Holloway and Bob Stewart sought to interfere in a decision regarding ex-MP Charlie Elphicke, who was convicted of sex offences.

The committee recommended that former environment secretary Villiers, senior Conservative Gale, and Elphicke should be suspended from the house for one day, while all five were told to apologise.

All five wrote to senior members of the judiciary raising concerns that a more junior judge was considering publishing character references provided for Elphicke (below).

“The letters signed and sent by the members in this case were an attempt improperly to influence judicial proceedings,” the committee said.

“Such egregious behaviour is corrosive to the rule of law and, if allowed to continue unchecked, could undermine public trust in the independence of judges.”

The MPs’ behaviour was found to have “caused significant damage to the reputation and integrity” of the House of Commons.

Of the three recommended for suspension, two had “substantial legal experience” while the third, Gale, is both the longest standing of the group and “still does not accept his mistake”.

They were all told to apologise to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, as well as to the House.

Elphicke later apologised after she was found to have breached the code of conduct.

In a statement, she said: “My actions were solely motivated by my duty to represent my constituents who had raised serious concerns with me. Those who approached me about this matter were private individuals who I believe have no place in the public eye.

“This is particularly true in the age of social media where online bullying and harassment is rife. It is of deep concern to me that the committee did not fully recognise this.

“However, as I have already acknowledged, I do recognise that there were faults in the way I set about raising my constituents’ valid concerns. I regret and apologise for that and will learn from this experience in the future exercise of my duties as an MP.”

Villiers “apologised sincerely” with a spokesperson saying she "accepts the findings of the Standards Committee".

“She deeply regrets the mistake she made in co-signing a letter to judges about the principles applying to the disclosure of the identities of members of the public providing pre-sentencing character references in criminal cases.

“She has apologised sincerely for doing this. The correspondence was well-intentioned, but Ms Villiers recognises that it was wrong to raise this matter with judges when a court hearing was pending.”

Gale declined to comment on the ruling, but he told the committee during evidence: “I would find a different way of doing it, but would I do it again – would I seek to achieve the same effect? Yes, I would.”

Labour’s shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: “Whether it is trying to interfere in judicial matters or sexually harassing their staff, the (Standards Committee) report today into the conduct of a gang of Conservative MPs once again shows that the Government and their MPs think it is one rule for them and another for everyone else.

“This behaviour is corrosive and does nothing but undermine trust in Parliament and it must not be allowed to continue.”

Elphicke was jailed for two years in September last year after being convicted of three counts of assault against two women.

One of them said he had asked her about bondage and sex, then kissed her and groped her breast before chasing her around his home, chanting: “I’m a naughty Tory.”