David Evans, Baron Evans of Watford

David Charles Evans, Baron Evans of Watford (born 30 November 1942) is a British businessperson and politician. As a Member of the House of Lords, he sits as a Labour peer.

In December 2025, Evans was suspended from the House of Lords for five months after a finding that his actions "could erode public trust in parliamentarians" for four separate breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct.

Early life Evans attended Watford College of Technology and was awarded the Edward Hunter Gold Medal as best student, as well as being awarded Full Technologist qualifications.

Career Following the sale of Centurion Press, Evans founded Senate Publishing Ltd with his business partner Caroline Minshell. Evans was a Trustee of the Royal Air Force Museum and is a Director of the Royal Air Force Museum Trading Company. He is chairman of the Institute of Collaborative Working. Evans was Senior Advisor to Ron Wahid, Chairman of Arcanum Global, a global strategic intelligence company and a subsidiary of Magellan Investment Holdings.

Evans was created a life peer on 28 July 1998 taking the title Baron Evans of Watford, of Chipperfield in the County of Hertfordshire.

Work for Azerbaijan Evans has given gushing support of Azerbaijan. He praised the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR's contracts with BP, celebrated Azerbaijan's victory over Armenia in a 2020 war, and supported Azerbaijan's bid to host COP29. These remarks were controversial due to Azerbaijan's corrupt, environmentally destructive and authoritarian regime. The company sued TBIJ, The Telegraph and openDemocracy for defamation over articles published in early 2022. The claim against the Telegraph was settled in January 2024.

Offering parliamentary services for reward In February 2025, The Guardian published a report alleging that Lord Evans had offered access to ministers - including Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner - in return for a payment of £25,000, as part of a sponsorship of a commercial event in Parliament run by Evans' son. On 4 March 2025, the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards started an investigation of possible breaches of the House of Lords rules.

On 8 December 2025, the House of Lords approved a recommendation from its Conduct Committee to suspend Evans from the service of the House for five months, following a finding that he had committed four separate breaches of the House of Lords Code of Conduct. The breaches included offering parliamentary services for payment or reward, failing to act on personal honour, and misusing House facilities for commercial purposes through events sponsored on behalf of a company in which he held shares. The Conduct Committee described the conduct as having the potential to erode public trust in parliamentarians. The suspension took effect following a motion agreed to by the House. Lord Evans had the Labour whip removed.

Arms