Independent Expert Panel dismisses appeal by Colonel Bob Stewart

In December 2024 the Committee found that Colonel Stewart had breached the provisions of the Code of Conduct relating to the registration of his employment with two companies, including failing to register payments of £41,385.20 and £32,277.87 he had received from one of them. He had also failed to declare a relevant interest whilst a member of the Defence Select Committee. The Standards Committee also concluded that he had failed to “co-operate at all times” with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ investigation as required by the Code of Conduct, delaying the investigation.

The IEP sub-panel that considered Colonel Stewart’s appeal concluded that:

The retention of a pass giving access to the Parliamentary estate following the end of a career as a Member of the House is a significant privilege. We have no doubt that members of the public, apprised of the serious and longstanding breaches of the Codes by Colonel Stewart, would find it incomprehensible if a lesser sanction than the permanent removal of the pass had been imposed 

and therefore that the Committee had “reached wholly sustainable conclusions” and the appeal should be dismissed.

The IEP’s report is available to read on its website:

• Appeal by Bob Stewart HC 663 (pdf, 305KB)

About the IEP

The IEP is chaired by retired Lord Justice of Appeal Rt. Hon Sir Adrian Fulford. The sub-panel for this case was chaired by Sir Adrian with Ms Monica Daley and Dr Andrew Hoyle. Full biographies are available on the Panel’s website.

The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) hears:

• appeals against decisions made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (the Commissioner), and considers referrals from the Commissioner and determines sanctions in cases involving an allegation against an MP of a breach of Parliament’s Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Bullying and Harassment policy, under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme; and
• appeals against decisions by the Committee on Standards in cases involving an allegation against an MP of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.

The IEP was established by the House of Commons on 23 June 2020. Its remit was expanded in October 2022 to include appeals relating to the Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct Appeals

The House introduced a right of appeal against decisions by the Committee on Standards in October 2022 implementing a recommendation from the Committee on Standards based on Sir Ernest Ryder’s review of fairness and natural justice within the House of Commons standards system.

Appeals are decided by a sub-panel of three IEP members. The process for appeals is set out in the Panel’s guidance for appellants (pdf, 323KB). The IEP does not “re-hear” a case (make a decision from scratch) but reviews the Committee’s decision against grounds of appeal agreed by the House. It is expected that most appeals will be carried out via written submissions, as it was in this case.