A former ethics adviser to Boris Johnson broke the rules in the House of Lords by “assisting an outside organisation in influencing” government officials at the Ministry of Defence, a watchdog has ruled.

A report from the Lords Commissioner for Standards said Lord Geidt – who advised the former prime minister between April 2021 until he quit in June 2022 – gave introductory remarks at a meeting in May 2021 between the officials and Theia Group Inc, which employed him as an adviser.

Politics live: New figures spell trouble for Sunak pledge

Despite claims from the peer that his only role had been to make sure the firm’s contact with the department “were conducted properly” and that he had been hired to advise them due to his previous experience, rather than his seat in the Lords, the commissioner said he had gone against a rule stopping peers providing “parliamentary services” in return for payment.

Lord Geidt appealed against the decision, but it was dismissed by the Lords Conduct Committee, which said while they accepted the peer “sought at all times to behave honourably and to comply with the rules”, he had still broken them.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

The committee said the breach was “an oversight” and limited to a one-off meeting, and as such gave Lord Geidt the most minor of sanctions available – recommending his write a letter of apology to the chair of the committee.

However, a source familiar with the matter said they were “mystified” by the decision, adding: “The lack of clarity about what constitutes parliamentary services is concerning.”

Michael Gove attacked by Labour, Tory MPs and Boris Johnson allies over leasehold U-turns

Peers approve £100 allowance for their overnight stays

Carmen Smith: Youngest peer’s job is to ‘lead’ efforts to ‘get rid’ of House of Lords, Plaid Cymru leader says

A spokesperson for Lord Geidt said: “The report acknowledges that Lord Geidt acted honourably in his evident desire to comply with the rules at all times.

“Despite that, the commissioner recommended the mildest sanction of writing a letter of apology to the committee’s chair for the ‘oversight’, which he has duly done.

“Lord Geidt has a formidable record of public service, including as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth and as the independent adviser on ministers’ interests.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The committee also issued another ruling on Wednesday, saying former Labour MP Lord Mann had breached rules twice over his work as the government’s adviser on antisemitism.

They agreed with an earlier ruling from the standards commissioner that the peer had failed to record support from the Antisemitism Policy Trust in his register of interests, and had used his parliamentary office for government work.

However, they expressed “sympathy” with Lord Mann as the government had “assumed” he could carry out his duties in parliament, so again he was only told to write a letter of apology.

Related posts:

Indian variant can ‘spread like wildfire’ if people not jabbed – but ‘confidence’ vaccines work Rayner doubles down on Tory ‘scum’ comments at Labour conference Starmer sees Labour rulebook reforms passed by conference despite another day of criticism Labour pledge to scrap business rates to boost ‘struggling’ high streets ‘He’s used up eight of his nine lives’: Tory rebellion over COVID restrictions points to a leader in deep trouble Home Office worker fears Rwanda plan for asylum seekers will put ‘lives at risk’ Jeremy Hunt has ‘great deal of sympathy’ for nurses – but says best way to help is to bring inflation down Chinese consul general and five officials sent back to China over Manchester protester beating ‘Suspicious’ Boris Johnson called Sue Gray ‘psycho’, ex-adviser claims The promotions and demotions in Starmer’s top team as election looms 55 ‘overlooked’ towns to get £20m each – is yours on the list? £1bn set aside for Post Office scandal victims – as govt vows to pursue Fujitsu if fault found