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Parliament's standards watchdog has expanded the investigation into Rishi Sunak's possible breach of financial interest disclosure rules. The prime minister is also under investigation as to whether he breached the code of conduct for parliamentarians with regard to disclosing details of ongoing investigations, he revealed on Monday. Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg opened the investigation following concerns that Sunak failed to detail his wife's actions at a child care agency that benefited from the budget.
Mr. Sunak declared Akshata Murty's involvement in Koru Kids in the ministerial register of interests after failing to mention it when questioned by a Liaison Committee MP.
Now, Greenberg has added a second strand to his investigation, under rules that prohibit lawmakers from "revealing details" of any investigation he conducts without their consent.
All my disclosures are reported in the usual way
Downing Street defended their approach, with the prime minister's official spokesman saying they had only "underlined what had been said previously" in public statements.
The commissioner opened the inquiry under rules that MPs must be "open and candid" in declaring their interests last week.
Number 10 responded at the time, saying: 'We are happy to help the commissioner clarify how this has been transparently declared as a departmental interest.
Separately, a Downing Street source confirmed that the investigation was linked to the actions of the Koru Kids agency.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget last month included incentive payments for childminders entering the profession.
Asked why the sum is doubled to £1,200 if workers register through agencies, Labor MP Catherine McKinnell asked Sunak if she had any interest to declare.
"No, all my disclosures are reported as normal," Sunak said.
Meanwhile, Greenberg has also launched an investigation into Scott Benton under rules that prohibit MPs from causing "significant damage to the reputation and integrity" of the House of Commons.
He lost the Tory whip after he was secretly filmed offering to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling industry investors in exchange for financial reward.
Deputy Labor leader Angela Rayner said: "While this PM falls short of the integrity he promised and fails to preserve the rotten standards regime he inherited while the Conservatives resist tougher rules, Labor has a plan to clean up politics with an independent ethics and integrity commission. restore standards in public life.
PA wire
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