Latest news with #SouthBasildon


Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Times
James McMurdock took bank salary while ‘claiming Covid loans'
A former Reform MP who allegedly borrowed tens of thousands of pounds in Covid loans received a salary from an international bank throughout the pandemic. James McMurdock suspended himself from Reform UK last week after The Sunday Times posed questions about £70,000 he borrowed through two firms in 2020: one previously dormant, the other with negligible assets. The South Basildon & East Thurrock MP later said he had quit Nigel Farage's party after taking 'specialist advice' which 'is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time'. He remains under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards and was separately referred to the Public Sector Fraud Authority by the Covid corruption commissioner last week. Reform has called for him to resign so a by-election can take place.


BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Essex MP James McMurdock investigated by standards commissioner
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is investigating South Basildon and East Thurrock MP James McMurdock over allegations he failed to register his business was one of five Reform UK MPs before he quit the party this week amid allegations over his eligibility to have claimed £70,000 in bounceback loans during the who is listed by Companies House as a director of Gym Live Health and Fitness Ltd, now sits as an Independent MP for the Essex has been approached for comment. On Wednesday, Labour MP Jon Pearce asked the commissioner to "investigate whether James McMurdock MP is in breach of the rules of conduct for MPs".Pearce wrote to the commissioner, saying "parliamentary rules state this directorship should be listed".The company, along with JAM Financial Ltd, where McMurdock was previously a director, has overdue said via social media that "all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations".Last weekend, he asked Reform to temporarily suspend the whip as a "precautionary measure", and the party said it was carrying out an internal Tuesday, he resigned from the party, saying that after he "had a chance to take specialist legal advice" he had "decided to continue my parliamentary career as an independent MP".South Basildon and East Thurrock was the last seat to declare in the 2024 general election following a full recount. McMurdock beat the Labour candidate by 98 votes in a seat that was previously held by the parliamentary rules, MPs should declare any earnings over £100 and any interests that "might reasonably consider the interest to influence their actions or words as an MP". McMurdock has not declared any on the register can be corrected by MPs, but serious breaches can lead to formal sanctions, including suspension from Parliament. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


The Guardian
3 days 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
4 days 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.'


BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
MP James McMurdock says he will not return to Reform UK after Covid loan claims
MP James McMurdock has said he will not return to Reform UK, after he asked to be suspended from the party following questions about loans he took out under a Covid support claims, published at the weekend by the Sunday Times, relate to loans McMurdock took out amounting to £70,000 via two companies, and whether the firms were to the investigation, the Essex MP said all his business dealings had been compliant with the rules but added that he had asked to be suspended from the parliamentary party as a "precautionary measure". On Tuesday he said that after taking "specialist legal advice" he had decided "to continue my parliamentary career as an independent MP". In a post on social media, McMurdock said that would allow him to "focus 100% on the interests of my constituents".He won the seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock in the July 2024 general election, beating Labour by just 98 votes. His decision means he is the second of the five Reform MPs elected in last year's election to leave the March, Rupert Lowe was suspended and now sits as an independent MP. The party's by-election victory in May, which saw Sarah Pochin elected to represent Runcorn and Helsby, means there are now four Reform MPs. The Sunday Times alleged that McMurdock borrowed tens of thousands of pounds under the government's Bounce Back loans scheme, which was designed to help struggling businesses during the Covid-19 newspaper said the loans were worth a total of £70,000 and were applied for through two companies - JAM Financial Limited and Gym Live Health and Fitness records show JAM Financial Limited had one employee and less than £5,000 in assets before the pandemic, and that Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited was dormant until January 31, Sunday Times claimed JAM Financial Limited took out the maximum loan of £50,000, a level of loan that required a turnover of at least £200, Live Health and Fitness Limited is alleged to have taken out loans worth £20,000, which would have required a turnover of £80, statement over the weekend, McMurdock said his business dealings had been assessed by "appropriately qualified professionals" and "absolute compliance was confirmed".