Exclusive: Bailey allegedly tried to influence the outcome of a separate ongoing investigation into an MP’s conduct, reports Marco Marcelline
Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey is being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner over allegedly attempting to influence the outcome of a separate ongoing investigation into an MP’s conduct.
An investigation into the Labour MP, opened on Monday 6th October, concerns Bailey’s alleged “lobbying [of] the commissioner in a manner calculated or intended to influence his consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred”.
Commissioner David Greenberg will now see whether Bailey, who was elected in July last year, has breached rule 14 of the code of conduct for MPs.
The rule in question reads: “Members must not lobby a member of the committee on standards, the independent expert panel or the parliamentary commissioner for standards, or their staff, in a manner calculated or intended to influence their consideration of whether a breach of the code of conduct has occurred, or in relation to the imposition of a sanction.”
The fact that an inquiry is taking place does not mean that the rules have been broken.
A spokesperson for Bailey said he could not comment on the investigation until it is complete.
Commissioner Greenberg is simultaneously investigating ex-Reform MP James McMurdock over alleged racial abuse against a Sky News journalist.
The sitting independent for South Basildon and East Thurrock is alleged to have posted the single letter “N” under an X/Twitter post that was critical of political correspondent Mhairi Aurora.
In a letter to Greenberg calling for an investigation, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty accused McMurdock of facilitating an “N Tower” chain where users collaboratively spell out a deeply offensive racial slur across multiple posts or comments.
McMurdock is under investigation for potentially breaching rule eleven of the House of Commons code of conduct.
This rule states: “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.”
Bailey, who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) for 24 years, has been outspoken against racism and far-right politics since gaining public office.
In his maiden speech, he warned of the rise of right-wing populists like the Reform Party, saying: “Those voices are present in our House and vocal in our politics, and we must challenge them openly to prevent those actors from fostering anger, hate and division within our communities.
“I fear it is our greatest threat to democracy, and we must be fundamental in our moderation. We must challenge those behaviours without fear, openly, separating them from the underlying issues.”
And in a comment piece for Echo following the vandalism of mosques in Waltham Forest earlier this year, Bailey wrote “malign state actors” were attempting to undermine social cohesion in the UK.
Bailey grew up in South London after moving there from Zambia as a young child. In his youth, he developed a close friendship with the older brother of Stephen Lawrence, and has previously told reporters he was left “shaken and angered” by Stephen’s racist murder.
The former RAF commander has also received an MBE for his work on supporting humanitarian efforts in Haiti and the Philippines, and a US air force medal for resupplying a team that had been hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
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