A member of the hereditary peerage has been recommended for a two-week suspension by the House of Lords Conduct Committee for falsely claiming mileage expenses and misusing a season ticket for official business purposes.
The individual in question, known as the Earl of Shrewsbury or Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, was found to have inaccurately reported driving 120 miles in January 2024 and improperly sought reimbursement of £199.52 for train fares.
The investigation revealed that Lord Shrewsbury used a rover train ticket, procured with his House of Lords credit card, to attend a non-related business meeting. He also made incorrect claims for four trips between his residence in Derbyshire and Stafford station.
The inquiry was initiated following a report by The Guardian, where the peer jokingly mentioned that the “government pays” for his travel expenses in an email exchange with colleagues. He had charged the cost of a rail ticket, allowing for first-class travel, to participate in a meeting of Cheshire Land Limited, a company where he serves as a non-executive director.
Although Lord Shrewsbury promptly acknowledged his errors and offered restitution upon being confronted with the allegations, the committee emphasized the gravity of financial rule violations, particularly concerning public funds and the reputation of the House and its members.
The Commissioner for Standards, Martin Jelley, determined that Lord Shrewsbury deliberately used the rover ticket and displayed carelessness in his mileage claims. In correspondence with a fellow director, Lord Shrewsbury was quoted as saying, “Travelling up from London. Government pays!”
Regarding his erroneous claims, the peer admitted to unintentional mistakes, attributing them to oversight and lack of scrutiny before submission to the Finance Department. He clarified the circumstances surrounding his rail ticket usage for the board meeting and subsequent travel arrangements.
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