PM is against removing whip from pensions minister
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reportedly said the whip should not be removed from pensions minister Paul Maynard, after opposition MPs called on him to do so. Maynard has been referred to the compliance officer by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority over allegations that he was using his constituency office for campaigning.
Sunak told BBC Radio Lancashire that removing the whip was not the normal approach, and that the usual processes should be followed.
His remarks follow calls by opposition MPs to suspend the whip from Maynard, which would mean he sits as an independent MP.
Accusations that Maynard may have misused taxpayer money were first reported in the Sunday Times. The paper claimed the pensions minister was using his constituency office for Conservative party meetings, and alleged that since his election in 2010, Maynard has spent £106,000 on printing and related costs, which it said is more than any Tory MP on record.
Newspapers cite a statement to the Sunday Times by Maynard, in which he said that there are “financial agreements in place with IPSA over the ad-hoc use of my constituency office by the local Conservative Association”.
He reportedly said: “I believe that these arrangements are appropriate but will be seeking clarification from IPSA to ensure this is the case. I will, of course, abide by any findings they make and ensure that any payments deemed necessary can be made promptly.”
MPs can normally only claim expenditure for parliamentary purposes.
A spokesperson for IPSA told mallowstreet: “In light of the additional information provided by the Sunday Times, we will be referring this to the compliance officer for IPSA.”
The compliance officer will assess the information before deciding whether to open an investigation.
Maynard’s office and the Department for Work and Pensions have been contacted for comment.
