Reform UK's Richard Tice investigated by parliamentary standards watchdog

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice is being investigated by the parliamentary standards watchdog over an allegation he failed to declare an interest.

The investigation was opened on Tuesday 28 July and was published on the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner website on Monday.

Tice, the MP for Boston and Skegness, said the complaint related to a Commons debate about Israeli influence and whether he should have referenced his register of interests.

Reform said Tice did not mention in his 22 June speech that he had been on a trip to Israel last September, funded by a pro-Israel lobbying group.

The trip has been listed in Tice's Declaration of Members' Interests., external

The investigation relates to Rule 6 in the parliamentary code of conduct, which states: "Members must always be open and frank in declaring 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."

The Parliament's guidance to the code of conduct states that MPs can refer to their entry in the register of interests but adds: "Such a reference will not suffice on its own, as the declaration must provide sufficient information to convey the nature of the interest without the listener or the reader having to have recourse to the Register or other publication."

A few days before the parliamentary standards commissioner opened this inquiry, the BBC learned a police investigation had been opened into payments to Reform UK by a company controlled by Tice in the run-up to the general election.

Tice, who was party chairman at the time, was the sole owner and controller of Britain Means Business, which made two donations of £250,000 to Reform UK.

At the time, Tice told the BBC: "This is the first I have heard of it - if true why are the Met Police briefing the BBC before contacting interested parties? Is the Met leadership now engaged in the widespread politically motivated smear campaign against Reform and its leaders?"

Tice has said the money was given to his firm by Fiona Cottrell, a significant donor to Reform UK and mother of a convicted fraudster with close links to party leader Nigel Farage.

Farage has also had an investigation launched into a potential failure to declare an interest, which relates to a £5m gift from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne before he became an MP.

That investigation was opened on 13 May but suspended on 8 July when Farage quit to stand in the Clacton by-election - the full list of 34 candidates can be seen here.

If Farage is re-elected, that investigation will restart.

Separately, an investigation has also been opened into DUP MP Sammy Wilson, for an allegation of failure to declare an interest. The DUP has been contacted for comment.