Rishi Sunak to be investigated by standards watchdog over potential rule breach
Rachel Lawler
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being investigated by parliament’s standards commissioner Daniel Greenburg following questions about his wife’s financial interest in childminding agency Koru Kids.
An investigation involving Sunak was opened by parliament’s standards watchdog on 13 April. The matter under investigation is listed on the as being related to a “declaration of interest” related to paragraph six of the MP’s Code of Conduct.
The paragraph cited states that MPs must “always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its committees, and in any communications with ministers, members, public officials or public office holder”.
The standards commissioner does not specify what matter is being investigated any further than this, but the development follows recent questions over the the Prime Minister’s financial interest in childminding agency Koru Kids.
The Prime Minister published a , including his wife's shares in Koru Kids, on 19 April. This is first time in almost a year that the list has been updated.
Agency bonus
Last month, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced plans to offer a bonus to new childminders when they register.
Under the new plans, those that register with °ϲʹ will be given a £600 joining bonus while those that register with a childminding agency will be given a £1,200 joining bonus.
There are currently six childminding agencies – including Koru Kids – which could benefit from the doubled bonus for those that join the early years sector via an agency.
Akshata Murty has been listed as a shareholder in Koru Kids since March 2021. According to in March 2023, she is still a shareholder.
Committee questions
Speaking at a session of the House of Commons Liaison Committee last month, Labour MP Catherine McKinnell asked the Prime Minister why the government would use “tax payers money to give double bonuses to sign up with private agencies rather than through the current system”.
In response, the Prime Minister said that the doubled joining bonus aims to acknowledge the fact that agencies are “intermediaries” and “that there are additional costs” as a result.
When asked by McKinnell if the Prime Minister had “anything to declare” in respect of the new policy, he said: “All my disclosures are declared in the normal way”.