Rishi Sunak to be investigated by standards watchdog over potential rule breach
Rachel Lawler
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being investigated by parliament鈥檚 standards commissioner Daniel Greenburg following questions about his wife鈥檚 financial interest in childminding agency Koru Kids.
An investigation involving Sunak was opened by parliament鈥檚 standards watchdog on 13 April. The matter under investigation is listed on the as being related to a 鈥渄eclaration of interest鈥 related to paragraph six of the MP鈥檚 Code of Conduct.
The paragraph cited states that MPs must 鈥渁lways 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鈥.
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鈥檚 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 Ofsted will be given a 拢600 joining bonus while those that register with a childminding agency will be given a 拢1,200 joining bonus.
There are currently six childminding agencies 鈥 including Koru Kids 鈥 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 鈥渢ax payers money to give double bonuses to sign up with private agencies rather than through the current system鈥.
In response, the Prime Minister said that the doubled joining bonus aims to acknowledge the fact that agencies are 鈥渋ntermediaries鈥 and 鈥渢hat there are additional costs鈥 as a result.
When asked by McKinnell if the Prime Minister had 鈥渁nything to declare鈥 in respect of the new policy, he said: 鈥淎ll my disclosures are declared in the normal way鈥.