The parliamentary standards watchdog has launched an inquiry into Conservative MP Bim Afolami over his registration of payments for chairing a pressure group that lobbied Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The investigation, announced by the commissioner on parliamentary standards, focuses on alleged breaches of the code of conduct relating to the registration of interests.
The inquiry centres on how Afolami declared fees from WPI Strategy, a lobbying firm that paid him £2,000 a month. The Guardian reported in May that Afolami initially registered the payments without specifying they were for his role as chair of the Regulatory Reform Group, a group of MPs that lobbied Sunak on regulatory reform.
Afolami later acknowledged the error, saying he contacted the registrar and amended his declaration to state he was paid chair of the group between February and May. He now performs the role unpaid. The group aims to improve the UK's regulatory framework to boost consumer outcomes and competitiveness.
Under parliamentary rules, MPs are generally barred from paid lobbying that benefits specific clients. However, Afolami argued his work fell under an exemption for associations or sector-wide advocacy. WPI Strategy confirmed it provided secretariat services for the group, funded by Pension Insurance Corporation, which contributed a foreword to the group's report but had no editorial control.
