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A Labour Member of Parliament (MP) has expressed regret and taken proactive steps to address a potential breach of parliamentary conduct after he publicly praised a private firm without disclosing a financial contribution made to him. This incident arose during a discussion in the House of Commons focused on construction standards.
Steve Yemm, representing Mansfield, specifically mentioned Power Saving Solutions, a battery power company, as instrumental in reducing dependency on diesel-powered equipment at construction sites. However, his remarks came under scrutiny as he failed to disclose that the company had donated £10,000 to him on April 23 of the previous year.
According to his register of interests, this contribution was not mentioned during his speech, which is a requirement under the MPs’ code of conduct. The code stipulates that any relevant financial interest should be declared when parliamentarians are speaking publicly.
In response to the situation, Yemm issued a statement, which was initially reported by the Guardian, stating, “I fully apologise for not declaring this interest prior to referencing the work of this company located in my constituency. I have made contact with the parliamentary standards commissioner and will formally correct the record at the earliest opportunity.”
During the debate on March 25, Yemm remarked, “I am keen that councils and house builders look to British industry for solutions in construction. My constituency is home to Power Saving Solutions, a company that is enabling reduced reliance on diesel-generated power on building sites, and I learnt recently about [construction company] JCB’s response, with its hydrogen-powered combustion unit, which will also reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry. Those are two great examples of private sector firms enfranchising themselves in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.”
Yemm, who has a background in technology and life sciences, was elected as the MP for Mansfield just last year, succeeding the former Conservative MP, Ben Bradley. This incident raises questions about the transparency of financial relationships between lawmakers and private entities, as well as the importance of adherence to ethical guidelines in parliamentary proceedings.
Source
www.bbc.com