Michael Gove under investigation by standards watchdog
Michael Gove has been placed under investigation by parliament's standards watchdog.
It relates to the housing secretary's register of financial interests - but it is not known what specifically is being investigated.
Further details will remain confidential until the inquiry is concluded - and those under investigation are barred from discussing the allegations.
Although the cause of investigation has not been published, last week the Guardian reported Mr Gove did not register VIP hospitality he enjoyed at a football match with a Tory donor whose firm he had recommended for personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts worth millions of pounds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The levelling up secretary enjoyed entertainment at a Queens Park Rangers match in 2021 with David Meller, whose company Meller Designs was awarded six PPE contracts worth £164m following Mr Gove's referral, the newspaper reported.
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A spokesperson for Mr Gove said at the time: "Mr Gove is grateful to the Guardian for bringing this matter to his attention. He has written to the relevant parliamentary authorities to inform them of a potential omission from the register of members' financial interests regarding two complimentary tickets he received from Queens Park Rangers Football Club to a match in August 2021.
"Mr Gove routinely declares his attendance at such events in his role as an MP and government minister, as evidenced by other entries in his register of interests and ministerial transparency returns. He apologises for any oversight on his part."
Under the MPs' code of conduct, members are required to register gifts, benefits and hospitality over a value of £300.
The investigation into Mr Gove takes the number of MPs who are being investigated by the standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, to six - all of whom are Conservative.
Among those also subject of a probe by the commissioner are deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, Sir Bernard Jenkin and Virginia Crosbie, who are alleged to have broken lockdown rules when they attended a birthday drinks during the pandemic.
The Metropolitan Police did not take any action against the three MPs when they closed their investigation into allegations last December.
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Other Conservative MPs under investigation include Bob Stewart and Miriam Cates, who is facing claims she has caused "significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its members generally".
On Tuesday evening former Tory MP Scott Benton was suspended from the Commons for 35 days over his role in a lobbying sting that was investigated by the commissioner.
MPs approved the suspension of Mr Benton without the need for a vote - known as going through on the nod - meaning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could face another by-election in Blackpool South.
A recall petition is now open in the seat, and if 10% of constituents sign it, a by-election will be triggered.
