Investigation into Penrith and Solway MP Concludes as Fresh Question over Council Payments to Labour Surface

Following a complaint made about Markus Campbell-Savours MP’s entry in the register of Members’ Financial Interests, Daniel Greenberg CB the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, opened a formal inquiry on 5 December 2024. 

The Commissioner said “My inquiry considered whether the Member had breached Rule 5 of the Code of Conduct for Members by failing to register payments made to him by his former employer, Cumberland Council, after his election as a Member of Parliament.”

“During my investigation, Mr Campbell-Savours rebutted the evidence on the basis of which I had opened my investigation and demonstrated that the payment that the payment made to him by Cumberland Council on 31 July 2024 was under the threshold for registration.”

Two complaints were submitted to the commissioner that Markus Campbell Savours MP has revealed to be made by a  Conservative Party activist in his rebuttal of complaints.

The two complaints against Markus Campbell-Savours MP as the Penrith and Solway Constituency made to the commissioner where: Failure to register earnings under Category 1 from Cumberland Council.

The complaint said “On or around the 31st Markus Campbell-Savours MP received a payment of £388 before tax, from the Cumberland Council, having received more than £300 from the same source in the calendar year.” 

Evidence attached to the complaint included a freedom of information request report from Cumbersome Council on payments made to councillors.

The second complaint alleged the Failure to register a donation of support for activities as a Member of Parliament with a value in excess of £500.

The complaint said “Upon election, Markus Campbell-Savours changed his address on the Cumberland Council website to that of Keswick Town Council, which persisted until his resignation in September.”

In response to the investigation Markus Campbell-Savours MP said “Following my election to the House of Commons, I decided that I would resign my role as a member of Cumberland Council. After consultation with council employees, I decided that I would delay my resignation until after Parliament’s summer recess.”

“Some staff in the council’s elections team had already delayed and cancelled annual leave due to the snap election. Arranging a by-election would have put additional pressure on this team. I decided I would resign on the 4th September, but would not be claiming any allowance.”

“I also attended a drop in with staff from the Registrar’s office in PCH. At this session I specifically discussed how I would declare my interests as a Cumberland Councillor and drafted the words used on my register of interests. This reads “This was an unpaid role from the 5th July 2024”. During the session, a conversation was had about how my outstanding allowance should be declared. I was left to believe that if my final allowance payment was under £300, it would not be necessary for me to include this on the register. I am quite certain on this point as it prompted me to contact Cumberland Council.”

“Following the conversation with the registrar’s office I contacted Cumberland agreed to forgo approx. £2000 in council allowances and not take payment for any council work after my election to Parliament. I engaged with the registrar’s office to agree the wording and what I would need to declare in my register of interests. I am satisfied that my action would stand up to public scrutiny and did not breach the Nolan principles.”

“I was satisfied that as my council allowance was income prior to my election, that it did not require registering. Had allowance payments continued after my election and been greater that £300 I would have registered this as per the advice given at the time.”

“Following receipt of your intention to open a formal investigation into this matter, I have spoken with several newly elected colleagues. Unsurprisingly, I know I am not alone in the approach I have taken with declaring income received for work completed prior to my election. One new MP is now questioning if they should have declared £50 in council allowance! I am perhaps alone in having had a Conservative party activist submit a freedom of information request to establish what I was paid.”

“But, it should be noted that this information was incorrect. I was paid £173.78. In the response to this matter, I wondered if you might consider if guidance given by the Registrar’s office to new Members and the wording of the guidance is/was consistent? Is the guidance really calling for salaries earned prior to election to be registered when Rule 5 contains the words “other than earnings”? Why wouldn’t a statement making clear that a role is unremunerated be sufficient (as used in my register)?”

Despite the Freedom of Information report included the commissioners report showing two payment by the council for £194.89 on the 31st July 2024, Cumberland Council has since confirmed that Mr Campbell-Savours has not been paid anything from Cumberland Council since the 5th July.

Daniel Greenberg CB the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards said in issuing his decision said “Having reviewed the evidence available, I have concluded that the evidence shows that the payment you received from Cumberland Council on 31 July 2024 was under the £300 threshold for Category 1: Employment and earnings. I do not, therefore, consider that there has been a breach of the rules.”

On the second complaint the commissioner said complainant alleged the failure to

register, a donation of office space provided by Keswick Town Council. The commissioner said “I do not consider this part of the complainant’s complaint to be sufficiently evidenced and I have decided to take no further action on this allegation.”

Despite the commissioner having now closed his investigation into the complaints against the Penrith and Solway Labour MP, fresh questions have emerged over thousands of pounds in payments made by Cumberland Council to the Labour Party and local labour group listed in the councils spending reports on the council has spending of public money, including a payment of £7,621.48 on the 10th of June 2024 as the General Election campaign got underway along with £2,447.85 paid in July along with thousands of pounds in other payments made to the Labour by the council. Including one payment for £1479.40 listed as coming from the councils Schools Directorate as a payment for “Refuse Collection”.


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