A previous Conservative minister has been requested to step back from his trade envoy role after allegations that a company he was receiving payment from assisted in drafting questions of claims to government departments.
George Freeman, who previously served as a trade envoy for Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei, has had his role suspended by Downing Street.
The Member of Parliament for Mid-Norfolk since 2010 self-referred to the parliamentary watchdog following accusations of receiving payment from a company that aided in writing questions to government departments.
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The Times newspaper revealed that he submitted inquiries to Labour ministers regarding the sector the firm operates in, leading to his self-referral.
A spokesperson for Number 10 stated: «Parliamentary standards fall under the jurisdiction of the House and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
«The individual in question has self-referred to that process.
«While the investigation is ongoing, it is appropriate for him to step back from his role, and he has been suspended from representing the UK as a trade envoy until the process concludes.»
Leaked emails published by The Times showed Mr. Freeman seeking guidance from the company’s director on what to inquire about as he crafted written parliamentary questions related to space data and emissions tracking.
The MP is said to have posed questions seeking more information on the policies and activities of government departments to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
Mr. Freeman, who served as minister for science, research, and innovation under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, became a paid adviser to GHGSat, a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring service, in April last year.
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In a statement made over the weekend when he self-referred to the watchdog, Mr. Freeman expressed his belief that he had not committed any wrongdoing but acknowledged his self-referral to the standards commissioner.
«As a long-time advocate for important new technologies, companies, and industries, collaborating across party lines through APPGs and the select committee, I regularly seek clarification from experts on technical points and terminology, and I deeply respect and strive to diligently follow the code of conduct for MPs and the imperative to always act in the public interest,» he stated.
«Throughout my 15 years in parliament (and government), I have consistently recognized the necessity of transparency in my work with commercial clients and charities and am always open to addressing any criticisms.
«I do not believe I have acted improperly, but I am promptly self-referring to the parliamentary commissioner for standards and will abide by his judgment in due course.»
He further mentioned: «I am deeply troubled by the unauthorized and targeted breach of my emails and diary, which I have reported to the police and parliamentary authorities.»