Sir Keir Starmer was found to have breached the code of conduct for MPs

S

Keir Starmer was found to have breached the MP’s code of conduct by failing to register eight entitlements on time, including gifts from football teams and the sale of a plot of land.

An investigation into the Labor leader was launched in June by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Catherine Stone over allegations of late declaration of income and gifts, benefits or hospitality from UK sources.

Speaking at the time, Sir Keir said he was “absolutely confident” he had not breached the code of conduct for MPs.

The commissioner has now found that the opposition leader failed to register eight interests – five more than those listed in the original complaint.

However, she noted that “the violations were minor and/or inadvertent and that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead.”

Read more

The watchdog therefore decided that the investigation could be concluded through the “correction” procedure, without referral to the Standards Committee, which occurs in more serious cases.

The correction procedure involves publishing the details and an apology on the Commons website.

A Labor spokesman said: “Keir Starmer takes his responsibilities to the register very seriously and has apologized to the commissioner for this inadvertent error.

“He has assured the commissioner that his office processes are being reviewed to ensure this does not happen again.”

The original complaint lodged with the commissioner alleged that between 6 March 2022 and 13 May 2022, Sir Keir failed three times to register income and hospitality he accepted within the 28-day time limit set from House.

The watchdog reviewed Sir Keir’s record in the register over the past 12 months and noted four additional late entries.

During the inquiry, Sir Keir also informed Ms Stone that he was in the process of selling a plot of land for a sum which exceeded the £100,000 threshold for registration set by the Chamber.

The commissioner wrote in his report: “Sir Keir said he had communicated with the Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests on this matter and having valued the land in January 2022 and put the land on the market in March 2022, he was awaiting the sale to end so that it can register the correct value.

AFP/Getty Images

“I decided to include this question as part of my inquiry.”

Ms Stone found that Sir Keir failed to register the eight interests described above, including the parcel of land, and “breached paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Commons”.

However, she continued: “I have determined that, based on the information available to me, the breaches were minor and/or inadvertent and that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead.

“Therefore, I have decided that the investigation can be concluded through the 35 correction procedure available to me under Standing Order No. 150.”

In a letter to the commissioner on June 21, Sir Keir reiterated that the late returns were “the result of an administrative error in my office”, adding: “I take full responsibility for my register and apologise”.

“My office and I have conducted a review of the process to ensure this does not happen again,” he noted.