RISHI Sunak was landed with a fresh headache today after a Commons probe into his financial interests deepened.
The PM is now being investigated for two possible breaches of the MPs’ code as part of the inquiry into allegedly failing to declare his wife’s shares in a childcare firm.
Rishi Sunak is being investigated for two possible breaches of the MP code
He was already under the microscope over Akshata Murty’s shares in Koru Kids company that stands to benefit from the Budget.
And now it appears Parliament’s sleaze-buster Daniel Greenberg is furious with him for publicly revealing details of the inquiry.
Today he expanded his probe to include whether Mr Sunak also broke Section 13 of the Commons code which forbids MPs from “disclosing details” of an investigation.
Earlier this month Mr Greenberg confirmed Mr Sunak was being looked at for possibly breaking Section 6 – failing to declare an interest.
When the Standards Commissioner launches an inquiry, the allegations are kept extremely vague so only the rule that was potentially breached is published.
This secrecy shrouding these investigations into MPs has long been questioned.
But Downing Street quickly revealed the nature of the inquiry related to his wife Akshata Murty’s shares in Koru Kids, which could profit from the government’s expansion of free childcare places and sign-on cash being handed to new childminders.
No10 insisted that Mr Sunak had declared his wife’s shares to the Cabinet Office, which later appeared in last week’s publication of the ministers’ interests.
Ms Murty’s other range of financial interests were kept secret.
Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM’s ethics adviser, said publishing it would be an “excessive and unreasonable intrusion”.
He added: “It is important to recognise the right of these individuals to a degree of privacy over their affairs and also to avoid compromising their ability to continue in gainful trade and/or employment.”
Downing Street refused to say exactly when Mr Sunak declared his wife’s shares to the Cabinet Office
The PM’s own finances are in a blind management arrangement so he cannot know if a decision he makes will benefit him.
The Lib Dems want to haul Mr Sunak before Parliament this afternoon to question him on ministerial interests.
