Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski under investigation by Parliamentary Standards Commission
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski is being investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, after reports that he asked a fixer for lucrative paid work from a Saudi businessman.
The Conservative MP says he is confident that any investigation will conclude his innocence and that he had "broken no rules".
According to the standards commission's list of current investigations, Mr Kawczynski is under investigation under Paragraph 17 of the House of Commons Code of Conduct.
Paragraph 17 states: "Members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally."
Thangam Debbonaire, shadow leader of the Commons, had asked standards commissioner Kathryn Stone to investigate Mr Kawczynski for an alleged breach of Commons rules.
It comes after The Guardian reported Whatsapp messages which allegedly show Mr Kawczynski asking a fixer for lucrative paid work from a Saudi businessman, Yasser bin Homran.
Mr Kawczynski said in response: “It is clear that at this time, the Press wish to keep a momentum going, the sale of stories, no matter the consequences to people's lives.
"At this time, I am focused on Covid spread prevention measures, and my work for the constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham. No rules were broken with regards to consultancy work, nor were any parliamentary resources used for personal gain.”
In addition, in relation to the investigation, he added: “I am confident that should the matter be investigated, the parliamentary commissioner for standards will conclude that I have not breached any parliamentary rules.”
