Former head of the British Army General Richard Dannatt suspended from House of Lords for 4 months for breaking lobbying guidelines

The former professional head of the British Army has been handed a four-month suspension from the House of Lords forbreaking lobbying rules.

General Lord Richard Dannatt was found to have broken the rules on providing parliamentary services in return for ‘payment or reward’ after a sting by reporters.

Lord Dannatt, who was Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, told journalists from the Guardian posing as businessmen he could introduce them to ministers.

The Lords Conduct Committee upheld the findings and recommendations of the independent Commissioner for Standards.

The committee said he had showed a ‘clear willingness to undertake activity that would have amounted to paid parliamentary services’ in his comments to the reporters.

It also emerged during its investigation that there were three other cases where he ‘provided parliamentary services in return for payment’ by writing to and attending meetings with ministers.

A second peer,  Lord Evans of Watford, was suspended for five months over a separate incident.

Neither peer appealed against the Commissioner’s findings or recommended sanction.

General Lord Richard Dannatt was found to have broken the rules on providing parliamentary services in return for ‘payment or reward’ after a sting by reporters.

Lord Dannatt, who was Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, told journalists from the Guardian posing as businessmen he could introduce them to ministers.