Labour leader Keir Starmer found to have breached MPs' code of conduct eight times

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Sir Keir Starmer has been found to have breached the MPs' code of conduct eight times. The Labour party leader failed to register on time eight interests, including gifts from football teams and the sale of a plot of land.

It comes after an inquiry into the politician was opened in June by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone, relating to claims about late declaration of earnings and gifts, benefits or hospitality from UK sources. However, speaking at the time, Sir Keir said he was 'absolutely confident' he had not broken the code of conduct.

The commissioner has now found that leader of the Opposition failed to register eight interests – five more than the ones alleged in the original complaint. However, she noted the “breaches were minor and/or inadvertent, and that there was no deliberate attempt to mislead”.

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The watchdog decided the inquiry could be concluded by way of the 'rectification' procedure - without a referral to the Committee on Standards, which happens in the more serious cases. The rectification procedure entails publishing the details and an apology on the Commons website.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer takes his responsibilities to the Register very seriously and has apologised to the Commissioner for this inadvertent error. He has assured the Commissioner that his office processes have been reviewed to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

In the original complaint made to the commissioner, it was alleged that between March 6, 2022 and May 13 2022, Sir Keir had failed, on three occasions to register income and hospitality that he had accepted, within the 28-day deadline set by the