Kirkwood escapes standards censure
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Liberal Democrat MP Archy Kirkwood will face no disciplinary action from the parliamentary standards watchdog after an investigation into complaints that he failed to register payments from a trust he chairs.
Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, said the MP "did commit an error" in failing to register money he received since 1989 to employ an assistant in his constituency. But he said that no action would be taken because Mr Kirkwood "rectified this omission" when he declared the funds from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust in November 1990.
The report also says that Mr Kirkwood's register entries relating to the trust "are not as full as they might be" and "could helpfully be amplified".
The inquiry was begun by Mr Mawer's predecessor, Elizabeth Filkin, after complaints from Adrian Flook, Conservative MP for Taunton – following an article in The Independent – and Ian Bruce, a former Conservative MP.
In his first report, Mr Mawer, said that "at all points Mr Kirkwood has answered fully my requests for information". The commissioner added: "I have seen no evidence that Mr Kirkwood failed to register support received in 1992 ...
"I conclude that on the evidence available the complaints made against Mr Kirkwood have no substance ... The temporary omission of an appropriate register entry in 1990, while an error, is long past and was remedied by Mr Kirkwood himself."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments