'Delay peer honour for Shaun Bailey until police investigation is complete'

08 July 2023 , 20:10

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Scotland Yard this week reopened its investigation into a 'Jingle and Mingle' Christmas party hosted by Shaun Bailey’s London mayoral campaign team (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

On July 18, Shaun Bailey is set to become a member of the House of Lords. It’s a great honour and privilege – and it needs to be stopped.

The Met Police have re-opened their investigation into Mr Bailey’s Partygate bash.

Since news of the “jingle and mingle” affair was broken, by this newspaper, fresh details have emerged. And they need to be carefully and thoroughly investigated.

But because Mr Bailey was named on former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list his new status is, for the moment at least, assured.

That is not good enough. Labour wrote to the Leader of the House of Lords last night to stall the honour. They are calling for a delay. And that seems fair enough.

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This is because, should Mr Bailey enter the House of Lords and wrongdoing is subsequently exposed, it would be incredibly difficult to remove him.

Even if he quit or was expelled, he would retain his title.

Surely it makes sense to delay the installation until the investigation is complete?

This is believed to be the first time a proposed peer has been linked to an active police operation. That alone should be enough to warrant a delay. It’s obvious. Common sense.

Still, as we go to press, PM Rishi Sunak insists he cannot stop it. Of course he can. But it’s not surprising he won’t.

You need courage and will to succeed in politics. As we can see from this grubby episode, Mr Sunak has neither.

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