Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has finally apologised for misleading MPs by claiming to have been a solicitor before entering Parliament. Mr Reynolds said he worked as a solicitor for law firm Addleshaw Goddard before becoming an MP.
As well as making claims on his constituency website, he also told the House of Commons in 2014 that he “worked as a solicitor in centre” before switching careers. However, it later emerged he did not qualify for the title because he did not complete his training contract.
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Jonathan Reynolds apologised to the Commons this evening (Image: Parliament Live)
In a point of order in the House on Wednesday, Mr Reynolds finally asked to correct the record.
He told MPs: “It has come to my attention that in a speech I gave on 28 April 2014 on the subject of High Speed Rail I made reference to my experience of using our local transport system in Greater Manchester when I ‘worked as a solicitor in centre’.”
“I should have made clear that specifically that was a reference at the time to being a trainee solicitor.
“It was an inadvertent error, and although the speech was over a decade ago as it has been brought to my attention I would like to formally correct the record.”
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Robert Jenrick says Reynolds need to apologise for other occasions as well (Image: Getty)
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Express Mr Reynolds should apologise for his other claims outside the Commons.
The top Tory blasted: “Jonathan Reynolds has finally admitted he lied in Parliament about being a solicitor.
“He should apologise for the many other instances, spanning well over a decade, where he deliberately lied about his qualifications.
“As a former director of public prosecutions, knows Reynolds broke the law. Unless Starmer sacks him, it’ll be another case of two-tier justice under two-tier Keir.”
In February the watchdog in charge of regulating the profession said they had previously looked into the claims and dropped them, however has now announced it has opened a fresh line of inquiries.
Under s17 of the Legal Services Act 2007, pretending to be a solicitor is a criminal offence, something the are saying demands Mr Reynolds’ resignation.
In a fresh statement this afternoon, the Solicitors’ Regulation Agency (SRA) confirmed a second inquiry is now underway into the top Labour minister.
A spokesman said: “We looked at that issue at the time we became aware of it and contacted Mr Reynolds about the profiles.”
“The materials were corrected, and we closed the matter with no further action based on all the evidence we had at the time.
“However, we’ve now become aware of further information, so we will look at this.”