Jess Phillips avoids sanction despite failing to declare payment on time AGAIN

The Birmingham Yardley MP was reprimanded in the past for failing to register a number of outside earnings.

Author: Molly HookingsPublished 8th Jun 2023
Last updated 8th Jun 2023

Labour frontbencher Jess Phillips has avoided sanction by Parliament's Standards Committee after failing to register a financial interest by the deadline for the second time in less than six months.

The shadow safeguarding minister declared a payment of £1,000 for giving a lecture at Bristol University in October 2022 two days after the 28-day deadline set by the Commons.

The parliamentary Standards Commissioner said Ms Phillips had breached the MPs' Code of Conduct in a "relatively minor way" but warned that repeatedly treating the register "in a casual and inattentive fashion is a serious matter".

The Birmingham Yardley MP was previously reprimanded for failing to register a number of outside earnings including for a guest appearance on the TV show Have I Got News For You, which she claimed was an administrative oversight.

The commissioner said: "Although this is a relatively minor breach, I am referring it to the Committee on Standards because it occurred less than six months after rectification by Ms Phillips of a number of late registrations of financial interests.

"A casual attitude to the register is unacceptable, and accordingly I consider it right to refer this breach to the committee."

The committee recommended no further action against the MP, but added: "This case underlines the need for members to submit their complete registrations in good time."

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