Reform UK Deputy Tice Faces Parliamentary Standards Investigation
LONDON-Richard Tice, deputy leader of Britain’s Reform UK party, is under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over a possible failure to declare a relevant interest, the parliamentary watchdog said on Monday, extending scrutiny of senior figures in the right-wing party.
The commissioner did not provide details of the inquiry but said it concerns Rule 6 of the House of Commons code of conduct, which requires members of parliament to be open and transparent in declaring any relevant interests during parliamentary proceedings, committee work and communications with ministers, lawmakers and public officials.
An investigation by the commissioner does not in itself indicate that parliamentary rules have been breached.
Tice said in a post on X that the investigation relates to whether he should have referred to his registered interests at the start of a parliamentary debate on Britain’s democracy and Israeli influence. He said the complaint had been submitted by what he described as an “anti Israel” lobby group.
According to Tice, the issue centers on whether he should have verbally declared an interest already recorded in Parliament’s register. His registered interests include a visit to Israel in September last year.
The inquiry comes three months after the parliamentary watchdog opened an investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage concerning a £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire.
That investigation was suspended after Farage resigned his parliamentary seat in July. Announcing his intention to contest the seat again, Farage said he believed the political establishment was attempting to damage his reputation through allegations concerning his financial affairs.
Separately, British police are investigating at least £500,000 in donations made to Reform UK. Tice has described that investigation as part of what he called a politically motivated smear campaign.
The developments come as Reform UK faces increased political pressure after more than a year of leading national opinion polls. Surveys published last week suggested the governing Labour Party had caught up with, or in some cases overtaken, Reform UK following a rise in support for new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Neither the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards nor parliamentary authorities indicated when the investigation into Tice might conclude. Under parliamentary procedures, the opening of an investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing, and any conclusions are published only after the commissioner has completed the inquiry.
