Commons watchdog launches inquiry into Corbyn’s Tunisia trip
AN iNquiry has been launched by Parliament’s sleaze watchdog into whether Jeremy Corbyn correctly declared a controversial trip to Tunisia.
During the visit in 2014, the Labour leader was pictured holding a wreath at a cemetery where members of Black September – the terror group which carried out the 1972 Munich Olympics attack on israeli athletes – are buried.
But Mr Corbyn did not log the visit, paid for by the Tunisian government as part of a conference on the israel-Palestine conflict, in the register of Members’ interests. Labour said this is because the costs fell below the threshold of £600.
But Mr Corbyn’s explanation was called into question after it emerged he had been put up in a five-star hotel, Le Palace – which describes itself as the ‘jewel’ of Tunisia’s business hotels. Critics said it seemed ‘inconceivable’ that the total cost would have been less than £600.
Both Tory MP Andrew Bridgen and the Campaign Against Anti- Semitism referred the case to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Failure to declare trips can lead to suspension from the House of Commons.
Last night Labour confirmed the commissioner had been in touch with the leader’s office, and that the party would be cooperating with the inquiry. it said Mr Corbyn had stayed for two nights in a cheap room.
rooms at Le Palace, set in the beach resort of Gammarth, start at around £ 100 a night and stretch to £1,700 for the top suite. The commissioner’s office did not respond to requests for comment last night.
The Labour leader faced a wave of condemnation last month after the Mail published photographs of him in the cemetery.
He defended himself by saying there ‘were many people laying many wreaths’ during his visit. Mr Corbyn said ‘a wreath was indeed laid’ for ‘some of those who were killed in Paris in 1992’ and added in response to a question: ‘i was present at that wreath-laying, i don’t think i was actually involved in it.’ He added: ‘i was there because i wanted to see a fitting memorial to everyone who has died in every terrorist incident everywhere because we have to end it. you cannot pursue peace by a cycle of violence.’ Mr Corbyn was criticised by MPs, members of his own party and israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.