Information Note on the Court’s case-law

November 2022

O.P. v. the United Kingdom (communicated case) - 23570/22

Article 8

Article 8-1

Respect for private life

Investigation into allegations and finding of Member of Parliament’s breach of relevant Code of Conduct: communicated

Following an investigation, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (“PCS”) found that the applicant, a Member of Parliament and a former member of the Government, had acted in breach of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament by misusing Parliamentary resources, engaging in paid advocacy, and failing to disclose interests. In addition, it found that he had failed to demonstrate the selflessness and integrity which formed part of the principles of public life. The report was placed before the Committee on Standards which recommended a thirty-day suspension, later approved by the House of Commons. That decision cannot be challenged. The applicant then resigned from office.

The applicant complains that his Article 8 rights were infringed, as the public finding that he had breached the Code of Conduct damaged his good reputation, and that the process by which the allegations against him were investigated and considered was not fair in many basic respects.

Communicated under Article 8.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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