Conservative peer Peter Gummer, known as Lord Chadlington, has announced his resignation from the House of Lords following a significant investigation that identified multiple breaches of conduct regarding £50 million in Covid personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts. The inquiry, led by the House of Lords standards commissioner, Martin Jelley, concluded that Chadlington not only failed to act on his personal honour but also did not cooperate with earlier investigations that had previously cleared him.
The investigation revealed that Chadlington introduced a company in which he held a financial interest, SG Recruitment, to the government as a potential PPE supplier for the National Health Service (NHS) in April 2020. This introduction was made during a time when the government was under pressure to secure adequate PPE. Chadlington’s direct engagement with then Health Minister Matt Hancock and his subsequent advice to the company constituted breaches of the code of conduct governing members of the House of Lords.
Specifically, the inquiry found that Chadlington committed three breaches of a rule prohibiting peers from profiting from their membership by accepting payment or incentives for providing parliamentary advice or services. Following the investigation, the conduct committee imposed a 12-month suspension, which is one of the more severe penalties for misconduct among peers. Chadlington appealed the decision, but it was upheld.
In response to the findings, Chadlington expressed his decision to retire from the House of Lords and exit the Conservative Party. He stated, “Having proudly served as a peer for 30 years, I have now decided that the time is right for me to retire.” He emphasized that he never acted dishonestly and that any errors made were unintentional, reflecting the pressures of the unprecedented national crisis.
The investigation into Chadlington’s actions is the third of its kind regarding his involvement with SG Recruitment. Complaints from the group Covid Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) prompted the inquiry last March. Previous investigations in 2022 and 2023 cleared Chadlington, although they noted the regrettable lack of cooperation from him. The findings in the latest investigation pointed to a failure to disclose relevant communications, including an email introducing SG Recruitment’s owner to a key government advisor.
The contracts awarded to SG Recruitment, which was a small agency at the time, were processed through the government’s controversial “VIP lane,” designed for politically connected individuals. Within weeks of Chadlington’s introduction, SG Recruitment secured contracts valued at £50 million. However, the company later went into liquidation in December 2023, owing £1.1 million in taxes to HMRC, and the Department of Health and Social Care deemed the PPE supplied under the initial contract as “unusable.” This contract alone cost the government £24 million.
Chadlington’s connections within the Conservative Party, including his close friendship with former Prime Minister David Cameron, were highlighted in the inquiry findings. Text messages and emails revealed that Chadlington sought Cameron’s assistance in approaching the government regarding the PPE contracts. Following these communications, SG Recruitment was awarded a contract for coveralls, followed by a second contract for hand sanitiser.
The findings have drawn mixed reactions. Lord Foulkes, a Labour peer who has been vocal about the issue, welcomed Chadlington’s resignation. He stated, “It is unfortunate that Lord Chadlington failed to cooperate with the previous commissioner’s investigations and therefore this has dragged on for so long before the truth has come out.”
The Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group also expressed approval of Chadlington’s resignation, asserting that it vindicates their complaint and highlights the importance of accountability for those who misused their positions during the pandemic. They noted the significance of the inquiry’s findings in ensuring that the multi-billion-pound contracts awarded during the crisis are properly scrutinised.
Chadlington’s exit marks a notable moment in the ongoing scrutiny surrounding government procurement practices during the pandemic. As the implications of these investigations continue to unfold, they underscore the need for transparency and integrity in public office.
