Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Ind)
Madam Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me time to make the following statement, apologising to the House and to the former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
This place loses reputation when Members fail to maintain the highest possible standards. I respect the rules and traditions of this place, and I accept the ruling of the Standards Committee and the Independent Expert Panel which heard my appeal. I therefore apologise to the House for all my breaches of the code of conduct. The Committee found that I breached paragraph 12 of the code, on paid advocacy, and paragraph 14, on registration and declaration of interest. I should have been more alert to the rules.
The Committee also criticised me for a letter I wrote to the former Commissioner for Standards during my case, after she had completed her investigation. I accept that this letter was inappropriate and I apologise to the former commissioner, Kathryn Stone.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his personal statement.