Senior Conservative MPs on Tuesday suggested that Shaun Bailey’s peerage could be in doubt after the Met Police confirmed detectives were scrutinising video of his staff partying during lockdown.
The former London Tory mayoral candidate was included in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list before further evidence of the Christmas “jingle and mingle” party at Conservative Campaign Headquarters during Covid restrictions emerged.
Cabinet Minister Mel Stride said there were “mechanisms” to prevent someone entering the House of Lords, adding that the Metropolitan Police were “looking into” the events.
The Work and Pensions Secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “They will no doubt come to their conclusions.
“There are then mechanisms involving the Forfeiture Committee that can lead to changes to honours that have been given in the past. But I don’t want to start pre-judging that process.”
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood called for Mr Bailey to consider handing back the peerage saying there are “big questions” surrounding him being given the honour.
“Absolutely he needs to consider that, if I’m frank,” Mr Ellwood said.
He added that Rishi Sunak should consider stepping in on the issue of peerages.
“You can’t simply have Prime Ministers stuffing the Lords with their friends,” he said.
Mr Bailey has apologised “unreservedly” after a video emerged of his staff dancing and singing.
Only photographs of the event in December 2020 had previously been seen publicly.
He said the event “obviously turned into something once I left and I didn’t realise that” and it was for “others to decide” about whether he should be stripped of the peerage.
Both Mr Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who was handed an OBE in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours, attended the gathering.
