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.

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'Fully within the law'

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.”

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Business propriety

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.

Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves has said that the party “owe the public an urgent answer about the financial conduct of Mr McMurdock”.

“The public deserve to know about the proper use of public funds by Reform UK MPs given their new councils claim to be conducting inquiries into ‘government efficiency’. Does Farage think he is fit to be an MP?” she said.