The European Court of Human Rights has handed down judgment in two cases concerning the operation of Parliamentary disciplinary procedures and the fairness of the sanctions imposed. Owen Paterson, a former MP, who resigned in November 2021 following a finding by the House of Commons Committee on Standards that he had engaged in paid advocacy claimed that the proceedings and/or their outcome constituted a breach of his Article 8 rights. Lord Ahmed resigned from the House of Lords in November 2020 pre-empting a vote on his expulsion for failing to act in his personal honour in respect of his conduct towards a female member of the public who had approached him for assistance. He alleged that the proceedings breached his Article 8 and Article 14 rights. The two complaints were dismissed on all grounds.
Neil Sheldon KC acted for His Majesty’s Government in both cases.
Read the judgments here:
