Rishi Sunak’s bet on Rwanda flights with Piers Morgan raised as potential standards issue

Speaking in the House of Commons today on a point of order, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael suggested the prime minister should “declare” his Rwanda flights bet with Piers Morgan.

Carmichael said: “It is reported that the prime minister and Piers Morgan have made a bet, surely a contest in which it’s a shame there has to be a winner, on the ability of the government to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before a general election”.

“Can you confirm for the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, that a £1,000 direct pecuniary personal interest is one which should be registered and declared to the House authorities and in accordance with the custom and practise of this House”.

The deputy speaker responded: “I am not a betting man myself, but I suspect that if every member of parliament who placed a bet on anything was required to enter it in the book of members interests, the book might be rather full.

“The honourable gentleman will understand. Nice try, but that is not a matter for the chair”.

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