Rishi Sunak faces fresh calls to halt Tory Shaun Bailey's peerage after police announced a probe into the latest Partygate revelations.
The Lib Dems are bringing forward a “Block Bailey Bill” to prevent him from taking his seat in the House of Lords after he was awarded entry in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours.
On Tuesday, Scotland Yard reopened its investigation into a “Jingle and Mingle” Christmas party hosted by Mr Bailey’s London mayoral campaign team, after the Mirror published a bombshell video showing guests drinking, carousing and dancing despite Covid restrictions in place in December 2020.
The Lib Dems are calling for Mr Sunak to “govern with integrity” and block his peerage.
Lib Dem Cabinet spokeswoman Christine Jardine has put forward an early day motion saying: “That this House expresses deep concern over the inclusion of London Assembly Member Shaun Bailey on the list of proposed peerages by the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.”
The motion goes on to note “that a party organised by Assembly Member Bailey’s mayoral campaign team is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police once again for allegedly breaching Covid regulations in December 2020”.
It adds that the House “further regrets that an individual currently under police investigation is being given a seat in the nation’s legislature for life; and calls on the Government to bring forward primary legislation which would revoke Mr Bailey’s peerage”.
Ms Jardine, who tabled the Bill, said: “It is shameful that someone linked to an active police investigation is being rewarded with the opportunity to vote on our laws for life. Our 'Block Bailey Bill' would make sure that doesn't happen.
"At a time when people were separated from their families and thousands were losing loved ones, Shaun Bailey and his team were allegedly partying away. If Bailey does not have the decency to turn down his peerage, then Rishi Sunak must make good on his word to govern with integrity and do it for him."
When asked by the Mirror on Wednesday if he thought it was acceptable he was awarded a peerage by pal Mr Johnson, Mr Bailey said: “That’s for other people to decide.” But he could refuse to accept the seat.
Officials say Mr Bailey is due to be “introduced as a baron” on July 18. The peerage has been rubber-stamped by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. It is unclear if the watchdog would have backed Mr Bailey’s elevation to the Lords if the police probe had been under way at the time.
Mr Bailey previously insisted he left the lockdown-busting party before the Mirror's bombshell video was filmed. However it was found he had still been in the building at the time.
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