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 Manchester city centre” before switching careers. However, it later emerged he did not qualify for the title because he did not complete his training contract.
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 Manchester City 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.”
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, Keir Starmer knows Reynolds broke the law. Unless Starmer sacks him, it’ll be another case of two-tier justice under two-tier Keir.”
MORE TO COME…
