Bassam grew up on a council estate in Great Bentley, Essex and went to the local boys secondary modern school in Pathfield Road, now Clacton Coastal Academy in Clacton-on-Sea.

Bassam then began his career as a social worker at Camden London Borough Council.

He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in Brighton Kemptown at the 1987 general election against the Conservative MP Andrew Bowden.

He insisted he has not breached any rules but has offered to pay back travel expenses from his Brighton home to Westminster."

He agreed to stand down as Labour's Chief Whip in the House of Lords following the appointment of a successor.

The Commissioner also noted that "his mistake was compounded by a degree of negligence in not reading the guidance provided to him.