Reform MP James McMurdock removes party whip ‘from himself’ over Covid loans investigation

Saturday 05 July 2025 2:31 pm
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Saturday 05 July 2025 2:32 pm

Reform MP James McMurdock has suspended himself as chief whip following a Sunday Instances investigation into his misuse of Covid-19 authorities loans.

McMurdock, who has represented South Basildon and East Thurrock since final July’s basic election, is alleged to have borrowed tens of 1000’s of kilos underneath the federal government’s Bounce Again loans scheme, in keeping with a Sunday Instances investigation.

In an announcement revealed on Reform’s X account on Saturday afternoon, Reform MP Lee Anderson mentioned: “I’ve at the moment obtained a name from James McMurdock who has suggested me, as Chief Whip, that he has eliminated the occasion whip from himself pending the result of an investigation into allegations which can be more likely to be revealed by a nationwide newspaper.”

Anderson mentioned that McMurdock has “agreed to co-operate in full with any investigation”.

The Sunday Instances alleges that McMurdock borrowed £70,000 in loans from two firms, neither of which filed account or annual company filings with firms home.

The primary firm, JAM Monetary Restricted, was employee-less, whereas Health club Stay Well being and Health Restricted was dormant till January 31, 2020. 

Medium-sized UK companies have been eligible of loans of as much as £50,000 throughout the pandemic, though loans have been restricted to firms with an annual turnover of not less than £200,000.

McMurdock additionally seems to have breached parliamentary guidelines by failing to reveal his hyperlinks to Health club Stay Well being and Health on his register of curiosity.

Parliamentary guidelines require MPs to register “vital, formal unpaid roles reminiscent of an unpaid directorship, a directorship of an organization not at the moment buying and selling, or a trusteeship”.

Reform is about to launch its personal inquiry into the loans, in keeping with The Sunday Instances.

Metropolis AM has approached Reform and James McMurdock for remark.