Lord Chadlington has announced his retirement from the House of Lords following a standards committee investigation into his conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 83-year-old Conservative peer faced scrutiny over his contacts with government ministers and advisers in relation to personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement deals during the health crisis.

According to reports, the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards recommended that Lord Chadlington be suspended from the upper chamber for 12 months after finding he had breached the parliamentary code of conduct.

The investigation centered on Lord Chadlington's role in helping a company secure COVID-era PPE contracts with the government. The probe examined his interactions with ministers and their advisers during the pandemic period when the government was rapidly procuring medical supplies.

Lord Chadlington's decision to retire from the Lords comes as he faced the prospect of a year-long suspension from parliamentary duties. His resignation effectively ends his participation in the House of Lords before any formal disciplinary action could be implemented.

The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of PPE procurement during the pandemic, when the government fast-tracked contracts worth billions of pounds to address critical shortages of medical equipment for healthcare workers.