Standards Commission confirm investigation into Carmichael

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has today confirmed that a formal investigation into Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has been launched.

The commission received a number of complaints following Mr Carmichael’s admission of responsibility regarding a leaked memo and last week said that an investigation would be considered.

The paragraphs of the Code of Conduct for MPs under which Mr Carmichael is being investigated are:

Paragraph 10 – Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest.

Paragraph 14 – Information which Members receive in confidence in the course of their parliamentary duties should be used only in connection with those duties. Such information must never be used for the purpose of financial gain.

Paragraph 16 – Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally.