Police investigate Labour's rail minister for texting behind wheel of double-decker bus
Labour's rail minister has reported himself to the police after he was caught texting behind the wheel of a double-decker bus.
Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, the Minister of State for Rail, was seen using his mobile phone while driving his vintage Routemaster bus through central London for charity last month.
The minister was reportedly texting a friend during the March 28 charitable event.
A spokesman for the minister said: 'Last month, Peter Hendy used his phone while driving. He has apologised in full for this error of judgement and has contacted the police.'
The Metropolitan Police said: 'Police received a report on Monday, 31 March of a man aged in his 70s using his mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
'The incident is alleged to have taken place near Paddington Station at approximately 17:00 hrs on Friday, 28 March.
'As there was insufficient evidence to progress the case, the investigation was filed.
'The Met has since been provided with further information regarding the incident. The investigation has been re-opened, and enquiries continue.'
The Sunday Telegraph understands that Lord Hendy has not been charged by the Met.
The organisers of the charity event, the Railway Family Fundraiser, have said that they 'regret that a positive and enjoyable event ended in this way and would once again like to express our thanks to Lord Hendy for his support'.
They added that they do not 'advocate or condone unsafe practices'.
The double-decker bus, which Lord Hendy owns, has been used by him on multiple charity bus tours of London.
The March event was a tour of west London, and the incident took place in the vicinity of Padddington station.
Lord Hendy has also led similar tours of the City of London on the bus. That tour has been described as 'an enlightening evening, touring the Square Mile'.
He has raised over £100,000 for various charities through the bus tours.
Lord Hendy was appointed as a rail minister by Sir Keir Starmer in July following the general election.
He previously served as chair of Network Rail and a Commissioner for Transport For London (TfL).
He began his career as a graduate trainee at London Transport. In the 1980s he was managing director of CentreWest, one of London's bus companies.
A Labour peer, he has sat in the House of Lords since 2022.
A spokesman for the Railway Family Fundraiser said: 'For the last three years the fundraiser has concluded with a special tour of London on his Routemaster bus, donated and conducted by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill.
'The Railway Family Fundraiser has always been grateful to Lord Hendy, both in his time as Chair of Network Rail and more recently as Minister of State for Rail, for the time he volunteered to support this, and the event has always been popular amongst supporters, and a positive event.
'The complainant did not make a formal complaint to any of the organisers about this issue, nor did he share any evidence.
'Since then, the organisers have only had one conversation from the complainant in the form of a text message, which he sent on 2nd April, where he informed us that he'd reported Lord Hendy to the Metropolitan Police.'
In 2022, Tom Tugendhat, then a security minister, was given a six-month driving ban when he was caught using his phone behind the wheel by police.
The Sunday Telegraph understands that Lord Hendy currently has three points on his license, which are due to expire in July.
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