Rishi Sunak investigated over declaration of interest

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being investigated by Parliament’s standards watchdog over a possible failure to declare an interest.

Mr Sunak is being investigated over whether a declaration of interest was “open and frank”, under rules set out by the commissioner for standards.

The BBC understands the probe relates to a childcare firm his wife has shares in.

The commissioner decides whether an MP has broken rules after an inquiry.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We are happy to assist the commissioner to clarify how this has been transparently declared as a ministerial interest.”

Last month, Mr Sunak faced questions over shares his wife, Akshata Murty, holds in Koru Kids, a childcare agency that could benefit from a new policy unveiled in the spring Budget.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a pilot of payments for new childminders, with more for those who sign up through agencies.

Ms Murty was listed as a shareholder in one of those agencies, Koru Kids, as recently as 6 March.

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This article was written by and originally published on www.bbc.co.uk