Birmingham Labour MP Jess Phillips under investigation by Parliamentary watchdog

Startling news has just come in about Labour MP Jess Phillips who has come under investigation by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner.

Details about the investigation are still emerging in this breaking story but it appears that Ms Phillips is allegedly being investigated for failing to declare all of her financial interests. 

Jess Phillips, who is MP for Birmingham Yardley and Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, is under investigation by a Parliamentary watchdog.

The probe, which opened on Monday 24 April by Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg, found that Ms Phillips allegedly breached MPs’ Code of Conduct when she declared tens of thousands of pounds outside the official 28-day deadline.

Ms Phillips’ violation relates to paragraph 14 of the Code of Conduct which relates to the financial interests of a Member of Parliament.

The Code clearly states that a Member of Parliament must be “open and frank in drawing attention to any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its Committees, and in any communications with ministers, members, public officials or public office holders”.

Mr Greenberg said the probe was in relation to the “registration of interests under category one of the guide to the rules – employment and earnings”.

The Labour Party has not released an official statement regarding the announcement of the investigation other than to say that “it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation”.

An investigation conducted last year also discovered that Ms Phillips had failed to register outside earnings within the deadline specified by the House of Commons and the Labour MP was reprimanded for her failings.