Richard Tice failed to register lavish hospitality from former Russian finance minister’s wife

IN BREACH OF PARLIAMENTARY RULES: REFORM UK’S RICHARD TICE

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has broken parliamentary rules by failing to register lavish hospitality he received from Lubov Chernukhin – wife of a former Russian deputy finance minister. 

From 4 to 6 August, Tice and his partner Isabel Oakeshott bagged themselves a trip to the French Riviera, where they were hosted the Lubov Chernukhin and her husband, Vladimir.

Tice and Oakeshott stayed at the Chernukhins’ “turreted villa” with “a stunning view of the Mediterranean” and had supper with them at a Michelin-starred restaurant, according to a report by the right-wing website UnHerd on 20 August.

Under House of Commons rules, MPs are required to register any new interests – which include overseas visits if the “cost is over £300” and “not wholly” paid for by the MP – with the parliamentary authorities. The deadline for doing so is 28 days.

An MP failing to comply with the rules can face an investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, who has the power to refer members for formal sanction.

On 22 September, 47 days after Tice had returned from France, HOPE not hate contacted his office, asking why this trip was not on his register of interests and offering him the opportunity to comment.

Shortly before 11am on 23 September, Tice’s parliamentary assistant responded to say the trip had been declared. 

HOPE not hate subsequently asked for proof that Tice had registered the trip within the 28 day time limit. His assistant did not provide any such evidence, but wrote in an email later that day: “Richard has asked me to reaffirm that the trip was fully declared and is expected to be published imminently.”

Last week, the most recent register of MPs’ financial interests was published, showing that Tice had finally declared receiving accommodation and food worth £1,400 combined from Lubov Chernukhin, in a trip to “discuss gas power in [the] UK”.

The new register reveals that he did so on 23 September – 48 days after his visit and the day after HOPE not hate contacted him for comment.

It’s unclear quite what prompted Tice to finally declare his lavish trip with the Chernukhins, but it seems he registered the trip after we contacted him, not before. Either way he’s in breach of parliamentary rules.