Henry Zeffman Profile picture
BBC Chief Political Correspondent

Nov 9, 2021, 8 tweets

EXCL: Sir Geoffrey Cox is tonight being referred to the standards commissioner by Labour after he appeared to use his Commons office to represent the British Virgin Islands in a corruption case against the UK government

Full story in @thetimes on Wednesday

It emerged yesterday Cox had voted by proxy while working in the BVI. But footage from September 14 appears to show him joining a hearing remotely from Portcullis House. This could be a breach of the rules around the use of Commons facilities - which Owen Paterson also broke

Here's the key clause of the code of conduct for MPs👇

Besides, this was the day the government passed the social care levy bill - really important. Rather than sitting in the chamber speaking/listening/debating, Cox was in his office being paid to represent a foreign government. Is that what constituents expect?

Angela Rayner told The Times:

Geoffrey Cox did not respond to requests for comment.

NEW: Cox confirms he was in his Commons office during the September 14 hearing but denies breaking the code of conduct geoffreycox.co.uk/news/statement…

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