Michael Gove investigated by Commons standards watchdog

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been placed under investigation by Parliament's standards watchdog.

The probe relates to Mr Gove's register of financial interests, according to the Standards Commissioner's website.

There are no further details about the investigation, with these kept confidential until it concludes.

However, last week the Guardian reported Mr Gove had failed to register VIP hospitality at a football match with Conservative donor David Meller.

In August 2021, he was entertained at a Queens Park Rangers match with the businessman, according to the newspaper.

Mr Meller's company, Meller Designs, was awarded six contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitiser worth £164m after a referral from Mr Gove, who was then Cabinet Office minister, in 2020.

The standards commissioner is not thought to be investigating the contracts, just whether he registered the hospitality correctly.

A spokesperson for Mr Gove told The Guardian he "apologises for any oversight".

"He has written to the relevant parliamentary authorities to inform them of a potential omission from the register of members' financial interests regarding two complimentary tickets he received from Queens Park Rangers Football Club to a match in August 2021," the spokesperson said.

Under the MPs' code of conduct, they must register gifts, benefits and hospitality over the value of £300.

Individuals under investigation are not allowed to discuss the allegations against them.

Asked about the probe in an interview with BBC Radio 2, Mr Gove said he was "bursting to say more about it" but was not able to because of Commons rules.

While he declined to comment on the standards commissioner's investigation, he said all PPE contracts were awarded by civil servants "against an objective set of criteria".

"No minister was involved in awarding PPE contracts," he added.

Meanwhile, the commissioner has also opened an investigation into independent MP Andrew Bridgen.

It means seven MPs are currently under investigation.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the House of Commons Code of Conduct and registers of interests.