Khan faces rap over election ‘rule-breaking’
By politics.co.uk staff
Sadiq Khan will face the judgment of a Commons watchdog tomorrow over allegations he broke rules during the election by sending parliamentary letters to his constituents.
Mr Khan, a rising star in the Labour ranks who masterminded Ed Miliband’s ascent to the Labour leadership, used official Commons notepaper and envelopes to send a mailshot informing constituents that he would not be available for casework during the election campaign, according to the Evening Standard newspaper.
The Commons’ standards commissioner, John Lyon, judged that Mr Khan’s letters – at taxpayers’ expense – could be construed as party political material, and thus broke the rules governing campaigning at election time.
“Having carefully considered all the evidence, I have concluded that the text of Mr Khan’s letter had the effect, which I accept was not intended, of supporting his return to public office, contrary to the rules of the House,” the Standard quoted Mr Lyon as saying.
However, the money used for the letters, £173, has been paid back by the Tooting MP, and there is no suggestion that the breach represented an overt attempt to swing the close-fought election in his seat.
Mr Lyon is reportedly satisfied with the MP’s response, but the breach will not reflect well on Mr Khan – who is currently seeking election to the shadow Cabinet following his support of the new leader.
