Reform UK MP James McMurdock Gives Up Party Whip Over Covid Loans Allegations
James McMurdock removed the whip from himself after being contacted by The Sunday Times.
The paper approached him about £70,000 in government Covid 'bounce back' loans he allegedly took out in 2020 and 2021 for two firms he owned.
In a statement, Reform MP Lee Anderson said: 'I have today received a call from James McMurdock who has advised me, as chief whip, that he has removed the party whip from himself pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations that are likely to be published by a national newspaper.
'The allegations relate to business propriety during the pandemic and before he became an MP.'
He said the party 'take these matters very seriously and James has agreed to cooperate in full with any investigation'.
Reform UK Statement. pic.twitter.com/h930qMCtYt
— Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) July 5, 2025
McMurdock was elected the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock last year.
It later emerged that he was jailed nearly 20 years ago for repeatedly kicking his then girlfriend.
At the time, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was 'a fine young man who's turned out really very, very well'.
McMurdock is the second of the five Reform MPs elected last July to no longer have the party whip.
Rupert Lowe was suspended by the party in March amid allegations of bullying, which he denied, and now also sits as an independent MP in the Commons.
Nigel Farage's Vision For A Reform UK Government Leaves Everyone Scratching Their Heads
Most Young People Unlikely To Vote Reform, Despite What The Party Claims
BBC Question Time Audience Member Brands Reform 'The Comedy Club' As Zia Yusuf Awkwardly Looks On
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Met chief calls for ‘mega' forces in push for police reform
Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called for the creation of 12-15 mega forces as part of what he described as 'the first serious reform of our policing model in over 60 years'. Writing in The Sunday Times, Sir Mark said the current system of 43 county forces had not 'been fit for purpose for at least two decades'. He added that bigger forces would be better able to utilise modern technology and would reduce 'expensive' governance and support functions. Sir Mark said: 'The 43-force model was designed in the 1960s and hasn't been fit for purpose for at least two decades. It hinders the effective confrontation of today's threats and stops us fully reaping the benefits of technology. 'We need to reduce the number of forces by two-thirds, with the new bigger and fully capable regional forces supported by the best of modern technology and making better use of the limited funding available.' He characterised Chancellor Rachel Reeves' decision to increase police funding by 2.3% above inflation each year in the recent spending review as 'disappointing'. Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, last month warned forces were facing 'difficult choices' and some would 'struggle to make the numbers add up' as the cost of borrowing spirals. Some have increasingly relied on borrowing, and the cost of debt is expected to rise by 49% in the next three years. 'Forces' borrowing costs have been going up because for the last decade, local forces have had no capital investment at all,' he said. 'The main capital investment has gone to big projects at the centre.' Force chiefs want greater say over how they structure their workforces, with the removal of restrictions on ring-fenced funding that was granted by the previous government to replace officers cut during austerity. Mr Stephens said policing needs a variety of workers other than officers, including cyber specialists, crime scene investigators and digital forensic experts, in the same way that 'the health service is much more than just about doctors'. He added: 'We know that the Government had some very difficult choices to make, as a consequence of this, policing is going to have some very difficult choices to make too.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
King Charles Has Switched Up the Plans for Donald Trump's State Visit to the U.K.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. King Charles is preparing to roll out the red carpet for President Donald Trump after inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit earlier this year—but according to a new report, there has been a major adjustment to the Royal Family's initial plans. According to the Times, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pushing for the trip to happen sooner to expected, and in a much more formal capacity. "Britain and the US are expected to confirm that a full state visit by the president will take place in September," the Times wrote. The formal document initiating a state visit, called a "manu regia," was reportedly delivered to the White House last week, per the outlet. In his initial letter to Trump—which was hand-delivered by Starmer in February—The King suggested an informal visit at one of his residences in Scotland, followed by a grander state visit at a later date. However, the prime minister has now pivoted from that plan and per the Times, "has expedited a full 'bells and whistles' visit in an attempt to capitalize on the president's fascination with the royal family." Sources have reported that the Royal Family "hoped for a more leisurely and considered approach, building towards a full state visit." Instead, the trip is now expected to take place entirely in England, centering around Windsor Castle and including a glittering state banquet. While Princess Kate will almost definitely take part in Trump's visit, it's unclear if the Princess of Wales—who has scaled back her duties as she recovers from cancer—will be making a tiara appearance at the event. Trump was quick to accept the royal invitation in February, stating, "The answer is yes, on behalf of our wonderful first lady, Melania, and myself, the answer is yes. We look forward to being there and honoring The King, honoring your country. Your country is a fantastic country, and it will be an honor to be there." The trip will make Trump the only U.S. president to make two state visits to the U.K., a rare and historic distinction. He first met with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in 2018, later returning for an official state visit in 2019.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Princess Kate Returns to Royal Duties After Intruder Arrested at Windsor Castle
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Security breaches have become shockingly common at royal residences in recent years, and on Sunday, June 1, Windsor Castle was targeted by an intruder for the second time in recent months. No one was injured in the incident, and on Wednesday, June 3, Princess Kate returned to royal duties for the first time after the breach. Per the Court Circular, the Princess of Wales—who launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood—held a meeting at Windsor Castle for her work in the childhood development sector. The private meeting marks the first duty the princess has carried out since May 22, when she attended a naming ceremony in Scotland for the warship HMS Glasgow. According to the BBC, a man in his thirties was arrested on Sunday for breaking into the castle grounds. A spokesperson for the Thames Valley Police said: "At just after 1pm on Sunday, a man entered restricted grounds at Windsor Castle. He was quickly challenged by Met police officers and arrested. He did not enter the inner grounds of Windsor Castle." The police continued that the man "was arrested on suspicion of trespass on a secure site and possession of class A drugs. He has been bailed and an investigation is ongoing by Thames Valley Police." In October, masked intruders broke into a farm property on the castle grounds that's alarmingly close to Adelaide Cottage, the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales. And in February 2024, an unarmed man was found wandering in the gardens outside King Charles's Windsor Castle apartments. "Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike," a police statement read following the October incident. The intruders escaped by driving through the very same gate the Wales family uses to access their property. While Princess Kate has been staying out of the spotlight since her May 22 trip to Scotland, next Saturday marks one of the biggest events on the royal calendar. On June 14, the Royal Family will gather to celebrate The King's annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour—and fans should expect to see Princess Kate, Prince William and their three children in attendance.
