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MP Justin Tomlinson sent Wonga draft parliamentary report | MP Justin Tomlinson sent Wonga draft parliamentary report |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A Conservative minister who breached parliamentary rules by leaking a committee report to a payday lender is to keep his job, the BBC understands. | A Conservative minister who breached parliamentary rules by leaking a committee report to a payday lender is to keep his job, the BBC understands. |
Justin Tomlinson, MP for Swindon North, faced calls to resign after he shared a draft report with payday lender Wonga. | Justin Tomlinson, MP for Swindon North, faced calls to resign after he shared a draft report with payday lender Wonga. |
Mr Tomlinson, now minister for disabled people at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said at the time, in 2013, his judgement had "been clouded". | Mr Tomlinson, now minister for disabled people at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said at the time, in 2013, his judgement had "been clouded". |
The DWP said he had the confidence of Prime Minister David Cameron. | The DWP said he had the confidence of Prime Minister David Cameron. |
The incident happened when Mr Tomlinson was a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in May 2013. | The incident happened when Mr Tomlinson was a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in May 2013. |
He gave a confidential draft report on regulating consumer credit to a Wonga employee, who replied with comments and suggested amendments to the report. | |
'Unreserved and full apology' | 'Unreserved and full apology' |
The PAC investigated the matter and, in a report, said Mr Tomlinson's actions "represented a substantial interference with the work of the committee". | The PAC investigated the matter and, in a report, said Mr Tomlinson's actions "represented a substantial interference with the work of the committee". |
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg reported a DWP source had said Mr Tomlinson has also been backed by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, and would stay in his job. | The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg reported a DWP source had said Mr Tomlinson has also been backed by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, and would stay in his job. |
Mr Tomlinson has apologised and accepted he broke the rules. | Mr Tomlinson has apologised and accepted he broke the rules. |
In a letter to the Public Accounts Committee he said he allowed his "judgment to be clouded" by his "strongly-held belief that action needed to be taken on payday lenders". | In a letter to the Public Accounts Committee he said he allowed his "judgment to be clouded" by his "strongly-held belief that action needed to be taken on payday lenders". |
"I also accept that as a new member I should have taken advice about the limits placed on members of parliament during committee inquiries. | "I also accept that as a new member I should have taken advice about the limits placed on members of parliament during committee inquiries. |
"Nonetheless, I hope the committee accepts that it was never my intention to interfere with the correct process of publishing a report I fully supported whilst a member and still do today. | "Nonetheless, I hope the committee accepts that it was never my intention to interfere with the correct process of publishing a report I fully supported whilst a member and still do today. |
"I reiterate my unreserved and full apology." | "I reiterate my unreserved and full apology." |
The matter has now been referred to parliament's Standards and Privileges Committee. |
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