Former British Minister facing criminal investigation
A complaint about former British Labour Party minister and Rotherham MP Denis MacShane has been referred to the Metropolitan Police, the UK parliament's standards watchdog said today.
An inquiry by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards John Lyon into the complaint has been suspended "until the question of possible criminal proceedings has been resolved".
The Commons Committee on Standards and Privileges, which oversees Mr Lyon's work, said it had agreed that Rotherham MP Mr MacShane's "conduct" should be reported to the Met.
It is understood that the complaint was submitted in June last year by the British National Party in connection with claimed allowances and Mr MacShane's work in Europe on politics and anti-semitism.
Mr MacShane said he would "co-operate fully" with the police as he had with Mr Lyon. I have been informed by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that he has written to the Metropolitan Police in connection with his inquiry into a complaint against me filed in June 2009," he said in a short statement.
"While I obviously regret this development I will of course co-operate fully with the police as I have with the Commissioner. I will make no further comment."
A short report published by the Committee said: "At its meeting on October 12, the Committee agreed that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards should report to the Metropolitan Police Service the conduct of the Rt Hon Member for Rotherham, Mr Denis MacShane.
"In accordance with procedures agreed in 2008 between the Committee on Standards and Privileges, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Metropolitan Police, the Commissioner's inquiry into a complaint against Mr MacShane will be suspended until the question of possible criminal proceedings has been resolved."
