Rishi Sunak breached MPs' code of conduct over wife's financial interest in childcare agency

The breach concerns details provided by Number 10 about an earlier investigation into Rishi Sunak's conduct in relation to his wife's financial interest in a childcare agency. Credit: Victoria Jones/PA

Rishi Sunak was found to have again breached the code of conduct for MPs after Downing Street discussed details of the confidential investigation with the media.

The House of Commons Standards Committee said the Prime Minister committed a “minor and unintentional” breach of the rules because statements made by his team “went beyond what could already be inferred from information in the public domain.”

Mr Sunak accepted responsibility for the disclosure and admitted that in hindsight he would have acted differently.

The breach relates to details provided by Number 10 about an earlier investigation into the Tory leader's conduct , which ultimately found that he failed to properly declare his wife's financial interest in the child care agency, which constituted a violation.

Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg's investigation was completed in August. However, in April the inquiry was extended to look into further breaches of confidentiality after Downing Street confirmed the matter was being investigated.

The code states that MPs must not “disclose details relating to: (i) any investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, unless required by law or with the permission of the Commissioner.»

«Minor code violation'

Number 10 confirmed the request related to a childcare agency and also indicated how the Prime Minister intended to respond.

He initially claimed his office was only discussing details that were already in the public domain. , but then “implicitly” admitted that he had broken the code, the committee said, and asked that the issue be included in the correction process.

In his written evidence, Mr Sunak said that «in hindsight, I would also have advised my office not to confirm the subject matter of the investigation in response to questioning.»

The committee concluded that this was the issue the public record states only that the Standards Commissioner was investigating a possible breach of the declaration of interests rule.

Although the subject matter of the investigation could be “reasonably” inferred from media reports at the time, it was determined that the indication Mr Sunak's response «should have remained confidential».

He concluded the case was a «minor and unintentional breach of the code» that «should not have happened». The commissioner said it had not had a material impact on his investigation and no sanctions were recommended.

Wendy Chamberlain, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Another day, another breach of the rules by Rishi Sunak and its chaotic Conservative government. Sunak promised to govern with integrity — instead he continues the same old meanness and scandal as under Boris Johnson.