Rotherham peer resigned from House of Lords before report into his conduct published

Lord Nazir Ahmed resigned after reading the contents of the committee’s report, which was published on Tuesday and found he breached the code of conduct “by failing to act on his personal honour”.

The Rotherham-based peer said he would launch a challenge against the report, the full contents of which cannot be published for legal reasons.

The investigation centred on his contact with a woman seeking his help in making a complaint to the Metropolitan Police over a faith healer she believed was exploiting men and women financially and sexually.

In a statement issued through his lawyers, Lord Ahmed said: “I am extremely disappointed by the report of the conduct committee which is based on a flawed and unfair investigation process.

“I have always said, and maintain, that the allegations contained in the report are not true. Given this I am now going to continue pursuing my appeal to the European Court of Human Rights to remedy this injustice.”

Lord Ahmed appealed against the findings and the severity of the sanction .

But the conduct committee, chaired by former Supreme Court justice Lord Mance, dismissed the appeal and recommended his expulsion. The report will go to the House for approval on Thursday.