https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx9l722xypo

Sammy Wilson has apologised for failing to declare a paid-for overseas trip when tabling a parliamentary question.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP is being investigated by Westminster's standards commissioner for failing to declare an interest when tabling a question on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, after making a visit to the area.

The MPs code of conduct states that when asking parliamentary questions “members must indicate any relevant interest on the question form”.

Making a point of order in the Commons chamber, the MP for East Antrim said: “I wish to apologise to the House for my failure to declare an interest when tabling a parliamentary question to the secretary of state for business and trade on 26 January 2024."

The website of the standards commissioner, external says the complaint was opened against Wilson on 31 October.

On the MPs' register of interests it says Wilson visited the area from 3 to 6 January this year.

The trip was paid for by the Turkish Chamber of Commerce, a body called Cyprus Premier and the Arkan Group.

The purpose of the trip is listed as a "parliamentary fact finding delegation to learn about country's political system, history, culture and economy".

During his point of order, Wilson said: “When I tabled the question I inadvertently neglected to declare my interest of a fact-finding trip to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, paid for by the Turkish Chamber of Commerce, which was in breach of the rules.

“I apologise to the House for this error and I’m grateful for the parliamentary commissioner for standards for his time and care in rectifying this matter.”

Wilson is the DUP's chief whip at Westminster.

MPs have been sanctioned in the past for breaking parliamentary lobbying rules after going on paid trips.

In 2018, then-North Antrim MP Ian Paisley was suspended from the Commons for 30 days for lobbying on behalf of Sri Lanka after taking an undeclared trip to the country worth up to £100,000.

by denk2mit

18 comments

  1. You’ve got to give auld Sammy credit: he wasted no time at all in taking up the baton from Junior. And at least he had the decency to find somewhere with nice beaches **and** a bit of sectarian partition to keep it relevant.

  5. I always be amazed how it’s always the god-fearing DUP when it comes to morality. They love an aul kick-back!

    I am however, not amazed that Sammy is picking up the baton from Jr.

  6. I always wonder why they even bother reporting on these things any more, it’s not like anything will ever come of it, same as every other time it has happened.

  8. I knew it wasnt a redner or scunderation, oul sammy got sunburn in Turkey and covered it by acting like hes raging all the time.

  9. Fs I forgot d u p was even this thing that existed. I had successfully repressed and disassociated this actual part of reality out of my life entirely.

    Ah ffs I remember that time now, it was such a blissful and good time – not paradise, like things weren’t all going well, there were problems, but I hadn’t any knowledge that this d u p existed and therefore back then was a good time.

    For fuck sake

  10. Fucking hypocrite .. “ethnics” aren’t that bad when they’re paying for your holiday.

  12. Snout in the trough again from old sammy fish supper wilson

  14. That holiday in Cyprus was just resting in my account, before I moved it on

  18. That explains why they made recognising Northern Cyprus part of their platform.

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