Latest news with #businesspropriety
The Independent
05-07-2025
- 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.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
McMurdock says ‘business dealings' compliant after he resigns Reform whip
MP James McMurdock has said after resigning the Reform UK whip: '…All my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations'. 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. A statement from Lee Anderson, Chief Whip Reform UK. — Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) July 5, 2025 In a statement posted on X on Saturday afternoon, Mr McMurdock said that he had been contacted by a journalist. '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 ReformUK, I have asked to have the whip suspended temporarily.' 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 that 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 also said that 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.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform UK MP James McMurdock Gives Up Party Whip Over Covid Loans Allegations
A Reform UK MP has suspended himself from the party over allegations about 'business propriety during the pandemic'. 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. — 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
Reuters
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UK lawmaker from Farage's Reform removes himself from the party
LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - A British lawmaker from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, James McMurdock, has removed himself from the party pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations relating to his business propriety, the right-wing party said on Saturday. McMurdock, one of five Reform lawmakers elected to join the UK's 650-strong parliament in the 2024 general election, will now sit as an independent, according to a statement on social media platform X from Reform's main enforcer of party discipline Lee Anderson. While the party - led by prominent Brexit campaigner Farage - has only a handful of lawmakers compared to the governing Labour Party's 403, it leads national opinion polls and gained noticeable ground from Labour in the local elections in May. "The allegations relate to business propriety during the pandemic and before (McMurdock) became an MP (Member of Parliament)," Anderson said in the statement. "At Reform UK we take these matters very seriously." McMurdock did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The Reform statement said he has agreed to cooperate with any investigation following allegations which are likely to be published by a national newspaper.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reform UK MP James McMurdock Gives Up Party Whip Over Covid Loans Allegations
A Reform UK MP has suspended himself from the party over allegations about 'business propriety during the pandemic'. 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. — 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
