Matt Hancock investigated by Parliament's standards watchdog

Matt Hancock is among 3 MPs facing probes by Parliament's standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg, it has been disclosed.

The ex-health caput is being investigated for allegedly trying to power the commissioner's enforcement of the rules.

A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said helium was "shocked and surprised" by the investigation.

He added that Mr Hancock denied trying to lobby the commissioner.

The probe was revealed by an update to the commissioner's website, which confirmed that a probe was launched connected Tuesday.

It besides confirmed Scott Benton is nether probe for his usage of his parliamentary email address, without offering further information.

The website said Mr Hancock is nether probe for perchance breaching a regularisation successful the MPs' codification of behaviour that prevents them from lobbying the commissioner successful a mode "calculated oregon intended to power his consideration" of whether the codification has been breached, without offering details.

Mr Hancock's spokesperson confirmed Mr Hancock had written to Mr Greenberg "in bully faith" to connection grounds for an enquiry helium is presently conducting, but did not connection further information.

"It's intelligibly a misunderstanding and Matt looks guardant to afloat engaging with the commissioner to wide this up," the spokesperson added.

Mr Hancock, who became 1 of the best-known politicians successful the state during the Covid pandemic, remains suspended arsenic a Tory MP for for taking clip disconnected from his parliamentary duties to appear connected I'm A Celebrity past year.

It led to wide criticism, with his section Conservative Association successful his West Suffolk constituency passing a question to accidental helium was "not acceptable to represent" the seat.

He confirmed successful December that helium volition not beryllium lasting arsenic an MP astatine the adjacent election, saying helium wanted to find "new ways to scope people" extracurricular Parliament.

The commissioner's website besides confirmed that Henry Smith, the Conservative MP for Crawley successful West Sussex, is nether probe for his usage of taxpayer-funded stationary, again without offering details.