Watchdog investigation, but everything above board

COUNTY MP Andrew Bridgen is under investigation by the Parliamentary standards watchdog, over claims of lobbying and failing to properly declare interests.

The investigation into the Conservative North West Leicestershire MP comes after The Times alleged he lobbied government minister Andrew Stephenson to help with Mere

Plantations’ tax affairs. Mere Plantations, a timber firm that owns teak plantations in Ghana, donated £5,000 to the North West Leicestershire Conservative Association following a call to Mr Stephenson, the then-Foreign Office minister, in August 2019.

That month, Mr Bridgen also accepted a £3,300 trip to Ghana paid for by the company.

He is also listed as an unpaid advisor on business and international politics for the company since May 2020.

Mr Bridgen said he has “never received any money from the firm” and welcomed the investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone to “clarify” the situation.

According to the register of MPs’ interests, Mr Bridgen listed the trip to Ghana as “learning trip on potential climate change mitigation” and as being for “asset inspection”.

He told the PA news agency: “I’m delighted to be able to clarify these matters with the standards commissioner and I will reiterate I have never received any money from Mere Plantations or anyone associated with them.”

Ms Stone is investigating a possible breach of the section of the MPs’ code of conduct stating “no member shall act as a paid advocate” and is looking at the part stating they should always be “open and frank” in drawing attention to any relevant financial interest in any proceeding of the House or communications with ministers.

A Mere Plantations spokesman