EXCLUSIVE RICHARD EDEN: Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary Lord Geidt faces inquiry from Lords standards commissioner

During his decade as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, Christopher Geidt put in what was widely agreed to have been a faultless performance, earning himself undying gratitude from the monarch — and a peerage in 2018.

But life beyond the palace appears to be proving more hazardous for Lord Geidt, 62.

Last year, he resigned as Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests – colloquially known as the PM’s ethics adviser – just 14 months after Boris Johnson appointed him, saying he felt he had been placed in ‘an impossible and odious position’ by one request from Downing Street.

Now, I can disclose, he is himself under the spotlight – after being named yesterday as the ‘subject of an inquiry’ by one of the House of Lords’ Commissioners for Standards.

The Commissioners’ office tells me it is unable to comment other than by repeating the brief statement explaining that the inquiry concerns ‘alleged provision of parliamentary advice or services’ which could lead to ‘potential breach of paragraph 11(b) of the House of Lords Code of Conduct’.

During his decade as Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth (pictured), Christopher Geidt put in what was widely agreed to have been a faultless performance, earning himself undying gratitude from the monarch — and a peerage in 2018

 Now, I can disclose, Lord Geidt (pictured) is himself under the spotlight – after being named yesterday as the ‘subject of an inquiry’ by one of the House of Lords’ Commissioners for Standards

The relevant clause states that ‘Members of the House must not seek to profit from membership of the House by accepting or agreeing to accept payment or other incentive or reward in return for providing parliamentary advice or services’.

An observer of the Lords suggests that the inquiry could relate to a new ‘strategic advice firm’, Hurista Advisory Ltd, offering ‘general business and strategic advice’ which he established barely a month ago.

Lord Geidt could not be reached for comment yesterday, but those who know him tell me his worst crime would be one of naivety. 

‘As soon as you set up anything to do with consulting, it’s immediately going to leave you open to accusations of transgressing paragraph 11(b),’ an old friend tells me, adding: ‘He’s a stickler. He’s profoundly decent, kind and extremely straight — a gentleman.’

A rare beast indeed in the Palace of Westminster.

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