Lord Bethell under investigation over pass for Hancock aide

Health Minister Lord Bethell is under formal investigation by Lords standards watchdog over sponsoring parliamentary pass for Matt Hancock’s lover

  • Lords Commissioner fo Standards has confirmed Lord Bethell subject to probe
  • He is being investigated over a complaint he sponsored pass for Hancock aide 
  • Matt Hancock’s embrace with Gina Coladangelo cost him his Cabinet job 


Health Minister Lord Bethell is formally under investigation over a complaint that he sponsored a parliamentary pass for the aide Matt Hancock was caught kissing on leaked CCTV.

The Lords Commissioner for Standards today confirmed that the Tory peer is being investigated over his ‘use of facilities’ in relation to Gina Coladangelo.

Mr Hancock’s embrace with the former adviser ultimately cost him his Government job after it was revealed the pair breached social distancing rules. 

Health Minister Lord Bethell is formally under investigation over a complaint that he sponsored a parliamentary pass for the aide Matt Hancock was caught kissing on leaked CCTV

The Lords Commissioner for Standards today confirmed that the Tory peer is being investigated over his 'use of facilities' in relation to Gina Coladangelo

The Lords Commissioner for Standards today confirmed that the Tory peer is being investigated over his ‘use of facilities’ in relation to Gina Coladangelo

Ms Coladangelo, a long-term friend of Mr Hancock, was brought into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) first as an unpaid adviser before getting a £15,000-a-year director role in September.

Members of the House of Lords can sponsor passes for secretaries and research assistants if they ‘genuinely and personally’ fulfil those roles for the sponsoring member.

The sponsor has to sign a declaration to that effect, and it would be against the rules if the individual did not work for the peer. 

From March last year, Lord Bethell sponsored a parliamentary pass for Ms Coladangelo. Lord Bethell has not said what work she did for him.

A House of Lords spokesman said: ‘The Commissioner for Standards is investigating a complaint regarding Lord Bethell sponsoring a pass for Gina Coladangelo.’

Passholders have free access to the Palace of Westminster, where they can mingle with ministers and MPs and use the estate’s facilities such as bars and restaurants.

Mr Hancock announced he was stepping down as health secretary on Saturday June 26.

He quit following the leaking of video footage showing him breaking social distancing rules by kissing Ms Coladangelo in his ministerial office.

Sajid Javid was appointed by Boris Johnson as Mr Hancock’s replacement at the Department of Health and Social Care.