UK parliament’s standards commissioner investigating PM Sunak

According to a Monday list of open enquiries on the British parliament’s Commissioner for Standards website, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was investigated earlier this month.

The list called the probe a “declaration of interest”. The investigation began April 13.

Sunak’s spokeswoman said the investigation involved his wife’s childcare firm holdings.

After media reports suggested Akshata Murthy was a shareholder in a company that would benefit from a March budget childcare program, the Liberal Democrats demanded an investigation.

“We are happy to assist the Commissioner to clarify how this has been transparently declared as a ministerial interest,” Sunak’s spokeswoman said.

The Commissioner monitors and investigates House of Commons Code of Conduct and Register violations. The parliament website’s commissioner’s page didn’t elaborate on the suspected violation.

Parliamentarians must disclose “any financial interest which might reasonably be thought by others to influence a Member’s actions, speeches or votes in Parliament, or actions taken in his or her capacity as a Member of Parliament” under the code of conduct.

If Sunak violates the code of conduct, the Commissioner might order him to apologize and take preventative measures.

In egregious circumstances, a committee can impose other sanctions. According to the parliament website, these include oral or written apologies, pay suspension, House suspension for a defined period, or expulsion.