Labour MP faces suspension
The Labour MP, Clive Betts is to face a Commons vote to suspend him after the Parliamentary watchdog accused him of ‘extremely foolish’ behaviour.
The House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee claimed that Mr Betts was wrong to copy a doctored document in an effort to mislead immigration officials and keep his Brazilian researcher, Jose Gasparo in the country.
The Committee also found that, in applying for a parliamentary pass for the former male escort, the MP had risked damaging public confidence in the integrity of Parliament.
The MP for Sheffield Attercliffe is expected to apologise to Parliament in a statement to the House of Commons later today. His suspension is expected to last for seven days.
Mr Betts was returned to the backbenches after a reshuffle following the General Election of 2001; he was previously a Government Whip.
