Former ministers face commons bans

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Former Labour Ministers Geoff Hoon, Stephen Byers and Richard Caborn are facing the prospect of being barred from parliament for breaking lobbying rules.

The Standards and Privileges Committee ordered ex-defence secretary Geoff Hoon to apologise. He will lose his commons pass for five years. Byers was found to have committed a “particularly serious breach” and looks like to have his access rights restricted for two years.

Former sports minister Richard Caborn was also ordered to apologies and faces a six-month suspension.