MP denies breaking rules on office use
FORMER Cabinet minister Sir Geoffrey Cox said he does not believe he has breached parliamentary rules after a video emerged appearing to show him undertaking external work from his Westminster office.
Labour has referred Sir Geoffrey to the Commons standards commissioner after The Times reported the practising barrister used his MP office in September to participate remotely to advise the British Virgin Islands over a corruption probe launched by the Foreign Office.
The QC, in a statement issued on his website, defended his decision to work with the islands - offering legal advice that could earn him more than £1 million this year on top of his £81,900 MP salary - and said he would co-operate with any investigation into his conduct.
A statement from Sir Geoffrey’s office said: “As for the allegation that he breached the parliamentary code of conduct on one occasion, on September 14 2021, by being in his office while participating in an online hearing in the public inquiry and voting in the House of Commons, he understands that the matter has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner and he will fully co-operate with her investigation.
“He does not believe that he breached the rules but will of course accept the judgment of the Parliamentary Commissioner or of the committee on the matter.”
The MP of 16 years also said he had been given permission by Chief Whip Mark Spencer to utilise proxy voting rules brought in during the Covid-19 lockdown to allow him to continue voting in the Commons while working out in the Caribbean earlier this year.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has written to standards commissioner Kathryn Stone requesting a formal investigation into the claims that Sir Geoffrey used his office for legal work, branding it a “scandal”.
She told broadcasters: “We think that Geoffrey Cox shouldn’t be using his parliamentary resources, including his office, to represent a tax haven that has been accused by the British Government of corruption.
“It’s completely unacceptable and that shouldn’t be happening.”
Ms Rayner previously said the allegation that he dialled in remotely to a hearing was “an egregious, brazen breach of the rules”, which stipulate that MPS must not look to gain financially by using resources paid for by the taxpayer.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid would not comment on the specifics of the reports concerning Sir Geoffrey when questioned by broadcasters on Wednesday, but told the BBC that parliamentary offices should not be used for “personal gain in any way”.
It comes after online video footage of a British Virgin Islands commission of inquiry hearing on September 14 appeared to show Sir Geoffrey offering advice remotely from his Commons office.