
James McMurdock says he will not return to Reform UK after Covid loan questions
The Sunday Times published a story on Saturday which alleged two businesses connected to Mr McMurdock took out Covid-19 loans totalling £70,000 during the pandemic, one of which had no employees.
On Tuesday, the MP said he 'had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field' since the loans came to light.
Writing on social media site X, he added: 'In light of that advice, which is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time, I have decided to continue my parliamentary career as an independent MP where I can focus 100% on the interests of my constituents.'
Further to my statement tweeted on 5th July 2025. I have now had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field. In light of that advice, which is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time, I have decided to continue my…
— James McMurdock MP (@JMcMurdockMP) July 8, 2025
According to Companies House, Mr McMurdock is listed as the current director of Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, and a former director of J A M Financial Limited, a position he resigned in 2021.
Both firms are shown to have overdue accounts and confirmation statements, and both have an 'active proposal to strike off'.
Mr McMurdock insisted when the Sunday Times news story broke that 'all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations and that appropriately qualified professionals had reviewed all activity confirming the same'.
He said he had asked for the Reform whip to be suspended temporarily as a 'precautionary measure'.
The chairwoman of the Labour Party said Nigel Farage 'sat on his hands' over the allegations and that the Reform UK leader should 'come clean with the public about what he knew and when'.
'After these serious allegations surfaced, Nigel Farage sat on his hands. He took no action against James McMurdock and instead outsourced the problem – that's not leadership,' MP Ellie Reeves said.
She added: 'Farage's Reform has proven once again that they simply cannot uphold the high standards expected in public life.'
Of the five MPs elected under the Reform UK banner in July 2024, two now sit as Independents.
Rupert Lowe, who represents Great Yarmouth, was suspended earlier this year following allegations about his conduct which he has denied.
Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn by-election in May, meaning that Reform now has four MPs.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
29 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Reform UK supports ‘one in, one out' among its ranks, Commons leader claims
Lucy Powell said she did not expect Nigel Farage's party to 'welcome' efforts to set up a one in, one out English Channel migration deal with France during Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the UK. 'But when it comes to their own party, they're already really enthusiastically implementing a policy of one in, one out,' Ms Powell told the Commons. Mr McMurdock left Reform UK after the Sunday Times published a story on Saturday which alleged two businesses connected to the South Basildon and East Thurrock MP took out Covid-19 loans totalling £70,000 during the pandemic, one of which had no employees. The now-independent MP has insisted that all of his business dealings 'had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations and that appropriately qualified professionals had reviewed all activity confirming the same'. Since last year's general election, Reform has also lost Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe from among its ranks but gained Runcorn and Helsby constituency from Labour in a by-election. Ms Powell, who did not name Mr McMurdock, told the Commons: 'Even though they've only got a group of a handful of MPs, their chief whip seems to have had a busier week than ours. I mean, that's kind of saying something.' Turning to the wider party, she said: 'The bigger story for Reform this week is they really are becoming the party of sleaze and scandal, and dud and dodgy personnel. 'It's not really the right moment, I don't think, to start ditching your vetting procedures, don't you think?' The Cabinet minister also criticised Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who is set to outline her party's welfare policy on Thursday. 'I did notice, though, that the leader of the Opposition today is giving a speech, talking about the ticking time bomb that's been left,' Ms Powell said. 'Too right it's a ticking time bomb – it's their ticking time bomb and we all know that they left mines all over the place, and we're coming along having to sweep them out.' Conservative shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman had earlier said Labour had lost the backing on 'even supportive British newspapers', and told MPs: 'For this Government, of course, the past week marks an anniversary of a somewhat less glorious and happy kind – its first full year in office.' Referring to a resident doctors walkout led by the British Medical Association (BMA) over a bid for 'pay restoration', he told MPs: 'As the wildly overrated Aneurin Bevan said he had done in 1948, the present Secretary of State (Wes Streeting) – and I'm quoting Bevan's words in relation to the GPs in 1948 – that he had 'stuffed their mouths with gold and they are already coming back for more'.' Ms Powell said the Government had already 'delivered a very generous pay settlement', but warned plans for a walkout were 'of course extremely disappointing and strike action that we don't think is at all necessary, because when the NHS is finally moving in the right direction, these strikes will put that recovery at risk, affecting patients and letting down our collective obligations to those that we're here to serve'.


Scottish Sun
33 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment Nigel Farage watches in fury as French Navy escorts 70 migrants to UK waters & hands them over to Britain
NIGEL Farage has witnessed first-hand SEVENTY migrants being escorted by France into British waters. The Reform UK leader looked on as a Border Force boat waited for the crammed dinghy to arrive for the handover. 6 Nigel Farage watches as French border force officials escort small boats into Dover Credit: GB News 6 Outraged Farage described it as a "classic" day in the English Channel Credit: GB News 6 Migrants smile and celebrate on a dinghy as it prepares to sail into the English Channel today in Gravelines, France Credit: Getty Video footage highlighted the moment the inflatable was monitored by British and French authorities in shocking footage. Illegal migrants waved and celebrated as they set sail for Britain. Mr Farage blasted successive UK governments who have handed £750 million to France to deal with the small boats issue - but the crisis continues. The incident happened as Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Downing Street to thrash out a deal to thwart the small boat journeys. Speaking from the Channel, Mr Farage said: "This is a classic day in the English Channel. Over the last five years, when the weather's on a red day, you've got a migrant boat. He told GB News: "And we've seen it through the binoculars, there's about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy. "And behind us we have Border Force sitting on a 12-mile line waiting for the handover. We've paid £800 million to the French, and this is the farce that goes on." Downing Street and France are currently trying to sign off on a "one in, one out" deal that could see fifty migrants sent back across the Channel each week. But Mr Farage says that as no one gets deported, Britain should hold up a sign in Dover saying "everyone welcome". He added: "You'd need 10,000 troops on the beach to stop any of these boats taking off. And we've got to be honest about this, we can be upset with the French, but it's our fault. It's our fault. Migrant camps brace for impact as UK-France deal fuels crossings "You might as well have a sign on the White Cliffs of Dover which says 'everyone welcome'. No one gets deported, and I think we have to go further than we've ever gone before." He adds that the nation is in "peril" as communities are destroyed with undocumented males able to roam the streets freely. He added: "I don't think these young, undocumented males that arrive today or any other day should be allowed to freely walk the streets of our country. "I think they've got to be detained in secure accommodation. Because, frankly, we are putting our nation and our people in peril." He added: "We cannot have people coming in and within a couple of days, walking our streets, working for Deliveroo or whatever else." Meanwhile, in Downing Street, Macron said that both the UK and France"share the same will" to address illegal immigration. Mr Macron said: "We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries. "We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers. "We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us." 6 A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover Credit: Darren Fletcher 6 This follows a small boat incident in the Channel Credit: PA


Spectator
34 minutes ago
- Spectator
The unstoppable Angela Rayner
There is the small matter of the Macron–Starmer press conference today, at which the Prime Minister will hope to announce a new migration deal with France. But we thought we would dedicate today's podcast to Angela Rayner, with some MPs thinking that the answer to Labour's woes could be to 'give it Ange until the end of the season'. As Tim Shipman reports in the magazine, she has undergone quite the political transformation – keeping her head down and away from incoming fire. Downing Street is taking her increasingly seriously. Is she the new John Prescott – or even the next Labour leader? Also on the podcast today: Jake Berry, former Conservative party chairman, defected to Reform last night. But how much of a coup is that really for Nigel's gang? Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale. Produced by Oscar Edmondson. For tickets to our Coffee House Shots live podcast next week, go to: