Evgeny Lebedev’s application to join the Lords is “a special case,” said the committee chair that reviews peerages.
Boris Johnson came under fire after nominating his friend who became an independent peer in July 2020.
Last month MPs voted to release documents about the decision, but Lord Bew denied any interference in his committee’s process.
He told MPs: “There was no pressure on this issue from No 10 or the Prime Minister.”
While confidential information about the decision has yet to be released, Lord Bew hinted it could become known “in the coming days”.
Newspaper owner Lord Lebedev is the Russian-born son of a KGB agent, Alexander Lebedev, and new questions have arisen about the security risk he may pose to the UK following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He denied posing a “security risk” to the country and supported the release of the safety advisories, tweeting “I have nothing to hide.”
Labor claimed the House of Lords Appointment Committee (HOLAC) – which Lord Bew chairs – advised the Prime Minister against honoring the businessman.
The party says it changed its mind after Boris Johnson overruled concerns from the security service.
- MEPs support the publication of Lebedev’s safety advice
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- I’m not a British security risk, says Russian-born Peer
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, made up of MPs, is investigating HOLAC’s role in the wake of the Lord Lebedev’s peerage controversy.
Mr Johnson is known to have been aware of the security service’s concerns. Former Advisor No10 Dominic Cummings said he was “in the room” when the Prime Minister was told Intelligence officials had “serious reservations” about the move.
Another source has confirmed to the BBC that security services have raised concerns.
Giving evidence to MPs, Lord Bew said there was “uncertainty” about Lord Lebedev’s case and a “special set of circumstances” when it came to the businessman – pointing to his father’s previous job.
“It would be ridiculous not to say that this isn’t a case of particular complexity with many folds,” he said.
“How much is someone responsible for his father etc?”
But he claimed that Lord Lebedev went through the usual review process and that no one interfered with the committee’s work.
“At no other time was there pressure on us in this case,” he said.
Lord Bew also denied trying to block the peerage, saying rather than warning against appointing him the committee was merely warning against a public backlash.
The chairman confirmed a letter to No. 10 in which he said: “You will have to take the criticism if you continue.”
Lord Bew added: “We are uncomfortable with the use of the word ‘warning’ in relation to any advice we have ever received from any of the agencies [on peerage applications].
“What we get are facts that we are supposed to interpret and reflect on.”
He admitted that HOLAC “needed clarification” on what was sent to them by the security services about Lord Lebedev and took “weeks” to reply.
But he said: “You know we didn’t say no to the Prime Minister [on Lebedev] – You know the bottom line. as the Americans would say.”
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