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The Guardian
an hour ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Ex-Reform UK MP's business affairs referred to fraud body
The former Reform UK MP James McMurdock's business affairs during the Covid pandemic have been referred to the Public Sector Fraud Authority, the Guardian understands. It follows a referral by the Covid corruption commissioner on Wednesday. The authority will investigate the evidence and work with relevant agencies if required. McMurdock, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock in Essex, surrendered the party whip last weekend in anticipation of revelations in the Sunday Times, which claimed there were questions over loans totalling tens of thousands of pounds. It was reported that he took out £70,000 in loans in 2020 from the government's bounce back scheme. He allegedly borrowed £50,000 for one business, JAM Financial Ltd, which had no employees and negligible assets until the Covid pandemic. For a firm to have been eligible for the loan, it would have needed to report a turnover of at least £200,000. McMurdock is said to have resigned as a director of the company in 2021 and transferred his shares. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Another company McMurdock owned, Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, was said to have borrowed £20,000. It would have required a turnover of £100,000 under the bounce back scheme. It, too, had no employees, according to the latest registered accounts available on Companies House, and had nominal assets until the Covid pandemic. The companies were due to be struck off the register at Companies House, but on the same day in February 2023 the process of suspending them was halted after the regulator had an objection from a third party. The MP said he had told the Sunday Times 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 on Tuesday he had decided to remain as an independent MP rather than seek to return to Reform UK after receiving legal advice. McMurdock, one of the five Reform UK MPs elected last July after winning the Essex constituency by 98 votes, posted on X: 'Further to my statement tweeted on 5 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 parliamentary career as an independent MP where I can focus 100% on the interests of my constituents.'
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Ex-Reform UK MP's business affairs referred to fraud body
The former Reform UK MP James McMurdock's business affairs during the Covid pandemic have been referred to the Public Sector Fraud Authority, the Guardian understands. It follows a referral by the Covid corruption commissioner on Wednesday. The authority will investigate the evidence and work with relevant agencies if required. McMurdock, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock in Essex, surrendered the party whip last weekend in anticipation of revelations in the Sunday Times, which claimed there were questions over loans totalling tens of thousands of pounds. It was reported that he took out £70,000 in loans in 2020 from the government's bounce back scheme. He allegedly borrowed £50,000 for one business, JAM Financial Ltd, which had no employees and negligible assets until the Covid pandemic. For a firm to have been eligible for the loan, it would have needed to report a turnover of at least £200,000. McMurdock is said to have resigned as a director of the company in 2021 and transferred his shares. Another company McMurdock owned, Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, was said to have borrowed £20,000. It would have required a turnover of £100,000 under the bounce back scheme. It, too, had no employees, according to the latest registered accounts available on Companies House, and had nominal assets until the Covid pandemic. The companies were due to be struck off the register at Companies House, but on the same day in February 2023 the process of suspending them was halted after the regulator had an objection from a third party. The MP said he had told the Sunday Times 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 on Tuesday he had decided to remain as an independent MP rather than seek to return to Reform UK after receiving legal advice. McMurdock, one of the five Reform UK MPs elected last July after winning the Essex constituency by 98 votes, posted on X: 'Further to my statement tweeted on 5 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 parliamentary career as an independent MP where I can focus 100% on the interests of my constituents.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
James McMurdock says he will not return to Reform UK after Covid loan questions
MP James McMurdock will not return to Reform UK after resigning the party whip over questions related to Covid loans, he has said. The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock 'removed the party whip from himself' last week pending the outcome of an investigation relating to allegations around 'business propriety during the pandemic'. 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.' 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 Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
James McMurdock will not seek Reform UK return after Covid loan questions
The former Reform MP James McMurdock has suggested he will permanently quit the party after receiving legal advice about his business conduct related to Covid loans. McMurdock, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, surrendered the party whip last week in anticipation of revelations in the Sunday Times, which claimed there were questions over loans totalling tens of thousands of pounds. On Tuesday, McMurdock said he had decided to remain as an independent MP rather than seek to return to Reform UK. 'I have now had a chance to take specialist legal advice from an expert in the relevant field,' he posted on X. '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.' McMurdock had originally said he had asked for the whip to be suspended as a 'precautionary measure' and 'for the protection of Reform UK'. The Sunday Times reported that McMurdock took out £70,000 in loans in 2020, which it said were from the government's bounce back scheme. It said he borrowed £50,000 for one business, JAM Financial Ltd, which had no employees and negligible assets until the Covid pandemic. For a firm to have been eligible for the loan, it would have needed to report a turnover of at least £200,000. McMurdock is said to have resigned as a director of the company in 2021 and transferred his shares. Another company McMurdock owned, Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited, is said to have borrowed £20,000. It would have required a turnover of £100,000 under the bounce back scheme. It too had no employees, according to the latest registered accounts available on Companies House, and had nominal assets until the Covid pandemic. The companies were due to be struck off the register at Companies House, but on the same day in February 2023 the process of suspending both companies was halted after the regulator had an objection from a third party. McMurdock said he had told the Sunday Times: '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.' McMurdock's resignation will make him the second MP out of the five elected for Reform in September to quit the party, after the Great Yarmouth MP, Rupert Lowe. Since Lowe quit, the party had returned to five MPs with Sarah Pochin elected in a byelection, but it has now returned to four. Reform UK has been approached for comment.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
James McMurdock says ‘business dealings' compliant after he resigns Reform whip
MP James McMurdock has said 'all' of his 'business dealings' complied with regulations after he resigned the Reform UK whip amid questions related to Covid loans. The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock 'removed the party whip from himself' pending the outcome of an investigation relating to allegations around 'business propriety during the pandemic'. 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. In a statement posted on X on Saturday afternoon, Mr McMurdock said he had been contacted by a reporter. 'I confirmed to the journalist 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 added: 'As a precautionary measure, and for the protection of Reform UK, I have asked to have the whip suspended temporarily.' 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'. Reform's chief whip Lee Anderson had earlier said that the allegations against Mr McMurdock which led to him removing the whip 'relate to business propriety during the pandemic and before he became an MP'. Mr Anderson said Mr McMurdock has 'agreed to co-operate in full with any investigation'. In a statement published on Reform's X account on Saturday afternoon, Mr 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,' Mr Anderson said. The statement said Reform would not be commenting further for the moment. Mr McMurdock has represented South Basildon and East Thurrock since last July's general election. He won the seat by 98 votes, beating Labour into second place, and taking the seat from the Conservatives.
