Jess Phillips avoids sanction despite failing to declare payment on time again

Jess Phillips has avoided sanction by a parliamentary watchdog after failing to register a financial interest by the deadline for the second time in less than six months.

The shadow safeguarding minister declared a payment of £1,000 for giving a lecture at Bristol University in October 2022 two days after the 28-day deadline set by the Commons.

Parliament’s Standards Commissioner said Ms Phillips had breached the MPs’ Code of Conduct in a “relatively minor way”.

But it warned that repeatedly treating the register “in a casual and inattentive fashion is a serious matter”.

The Birmingham Yardley MP was previously reprimanded for failing to register a number of outside earnings, which she insisted was an administrative oversight.

These included a payment for a guest appearance on the TV show Have I Got News For You.

The commissioner said: “Although this is a relatively minor breach, I am referring it to the Committee on Standards because it occurred less than six months after rectification by Ms Phillips of a number of late registrations of financial interests.

“A casual attitude to the register is unacceptable, and accordingly I consider it right to refer this breach to the committee.”

The committee recommended no further action against the Labour politician.

But it added: “This case underlines the need for members to submit their complete registrations in good time.”

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