Conservative MP under investigation over alleged paid lobbying

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is being investigated by the parliamentary watchdog over allegations of lobbying and failing to declare interests. 

According to a report in The Times, Mr Bridgen accepted £5,000 through his local Conservative association from a firm after having raised its tax issues with a minister.

The paper said the MP contacted the minister after a trip to the firm’s teak plantation in Ghana in 2019.

Mr Bridgen has told the BBC that the trip and donation had been “fully declared”. He said he had “never personally received any money from Mere Plantations or anyone associated with them”.

MPs have to declare any jobs they have or that a member of their family has that could influence their opinions.

A Mere Plantations spokesman said there was “nothing inappropriate”, adding: “We haven’t paid Andrew Bridgen anything.”