WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols is to face no further action following an investigation into a breach of lobbying rules in connection with a funded trip to Japan with the British Council.
After asking a Question in the chamber during Questions on International Trade, Ms Nichols referred herself to Commissioner of Standards Daniel Greenberg, who has now confirmed he proposes to take no further action stating “your question could not reasonably be construed as seeking to confer a benefit on the British Council.”
Commenting on the decision Ms Nichols said: “I am grateful to the Commissioner for his speed in considering my self-referral, and am pleased that he has confirmed that there was no breach of the rules on my part.”
In his letter to Ms Nichols Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg wrote:
1. This note responds to your email of 25 January 2023 about the Question that you asked in the Chamber on 15 December 2022 during Questions on International Trade.
2. I am grateful to you for writing to me to share your concern that your Question may have inadvertently breached the House’s rules about paid advocacy.
3. The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members contains guidance on the rule about paid advocacy in Chapter 3.
4. In essence, the rule prohibits a Member from lobbying in a manner that seeks to confer a benefit on an identifiable person from whom, or on an identifiable organisation from which, the Member has received a financial benefit in the
previous six months.
5. At the time of your Question you had received a financial benefit from the British Council in the previous six months, in the form of a funded visit to Japan.
6. I am satisfied, however, that your Question could not reasonably be construed as seeking to confer a benefit on the British Council.
7. I therefore propose to take no further action on this matter, but remain very grateful to you for taking the trouble to raise it with me.
I've had written confirmation from the Standards Commissioner today that my question "could not reasonably be
construed as seeking to confer a benefit on the British Council", that no action will be taken & that he's "grateful" for my self referral in clarifying this matter. https://t.co/1fPyRuyaGw— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) January 30, 2023
