Tory earl investigated over rules to stop peers ‘seeking to profit’ from being in Lords

Standards inquiry into hereditary peer whose full name is Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot

Peers must not ’accept any financial inducement’ in return for ‘exercising parliamentary influence‘

A second Conservative peer is being investigated over rules designed to stamp out “seeking to profit” from being a member of the House of Lords.

The Earl of Shrewsbury – whose full name is Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot – faces an inquiry by standards commissioners in the upper chamber.

The rules alleged to have been breached are the same as those which have put his fellow Tory peer Michelle Mone under investigation, over PPE contracts awarded via the government’s “VIP lane”.

They state that peers “must not seek to profit from membership of the House” by being rewarded for providing parliamentary services or advice.

They must also register and declare all relevant interests, and not “accept any financial inducement as an incentive or reward for exercising parliamentary influence”, the conduct code states.

No details have been released about what the commissioners are investigating, which remain confidential until a report is completed.

The earl said he was unable to comment, telling The Guardian: “The commission have told me that if I speak to anyone about their investigation I will be in contempt of parliament.”

He is one of 92 hereditary peers who remain in the Lords – to widespread ridicule – more than 20 years after a “temporary” arrangement was struck between Labour and the Conservatives.

The earl is the 22nd male holder of the title, first bestowed on his ancestor John Talbot in 1442, since when generations of his ancestors have taken their seats in the Lords.

He runs his own public relations company, Talbot Consulting, and has registered other financial interests in land development and concrete-manufacturing firms.

The investigation into Baroness Mone relates to her alleged involvement in procuring £203m PPE contracts for a company, PPE Medpro. She has denied wrongdoing.