West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock 'should apologise' for 'minor' breach of MPs' code of conduct
The former Health Secretary broke the rules by writing a letter in support of a fellow Tory MP - who's being investigated for breaking lobbying rules
Former health secretary Matt Hancock should apologise to Parliament for a "minor breach" of the MPs' code of conduct, the Commons standards watchdog said.
Mr Hancock committed the breach by writing an unsolicited letter to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg in defence of senior Tory Steve Brine, who is under investigation for an alleged breach of lobbying rules.
The Commons Committee on Standards said: "This was a minor breach of the Code; however, Mr Hancock has still not acknowledged his mistake."
The committee recommended that Mr Hancock should make a personal statement to apologise to the House of Commons and the commissioner.
He should also attend a "briefing on his obligations under the code with the commissioner", the committee's report said.