The conduct of Lord Bhatia

Book excerpt: The focus of this report is Lord Bhatia's use of the Members' Reimbursement Scheme between 1 October 2007 and 1 January 2009, regarding his designation of a flat in Reigate as his main residence whilst still owning and spending the majority of his time at a family home in Hampton. The Sub-committee on Lords' Conduct found that Lord Bhatia's interpretation of "main residence" was unreasonable and that he did not act in good faith in designating the Reigate property and in claiming for overnight subsistence and travel. Lord Bhatia appealed to the full Committee against the Sub-committee's findings and recommendations. The Committee upholds the findings of the Sub-committee, and recommends that he makes a personal statement of apology to the House and is then suspended from the House for one year or until she has repaid the sum of £27,446 wrongly claimed, whichever is the later.