Jack Dromey faces inquiry into 'undeclared' union salary

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

Shadow Housing Minister Jack Dromey is being investigated by the Parliamentary standards watchdog over allegations that he failed to declare money he earned from his former job as a union official.

Mr Dromey, a former Deputy General Secretary of the Unite Union, is the subject of an inquiry by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards after a complaint was made by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.

Mr Bridgen alleges that the Labour MP for Erdington continued in his role at Unite until October 30 last year, five months after becoming an MP at the 2010 General Election.

A report by the Sunday Times revealed that Mr Dromey was paid £27,867 by the union during that period, including salary and pay in lieu of notice, but the money was only registered on the official Register of Members’ Interests this month.

John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, will now determine whether Mr Dromey made a “false or misleading registration of his financial interests”, and consider if a breach of the MPs’ code of conduct has occurred.

Mr Dromey said: “A Conservative MP has made accusations relating to my former employer, Unite the union.

“The Commissioner is perfectly properly investigating. I am co-operating fully with the investigation.”