BOURNEMOUTH West MP Conor Burns has resigned as the Minister of State for International Trade after "making veiled threats to use parliamentary privilege to further his family’s interests."
It comes after a committee report concluded he breached standards after a complaint that he suggested he would use parliamentary privilege over a debt dispute involving his father.
Posting on Twitter this morning, Mr Burns said: "With deep regret I have decided to resign as Minister of State for International Trade. Boris Johnson will continue to have my wholehearted support from the backbenches."
With deep regret I have decided to resign as Minister of State for International Trade. @BorisJohnson will continue to have my wholehearted support from the backbenches.
— Conor Burns (@ConorBurnsUK) May 4, 2020
The committee said: “The committee’s overall conclusion is that Mr Burns used his parliamentary position in an attempt to intimidate a member of the public into doing as Mr Burns wished, in a dispute relating to purely private family interests which had no connection with Mr Burns’ parliamentary duties, that he persisted in making veiled threats to use parliamentary privilege to further his family’s interests even during the course of the commissioner’s investigation, and that he misleadingly implied that his conduct had the support of the House authorities.”
“The committee considers that Mr Burns’ abuse of his privileged status in an attempt to intimidate a member of the public calls for a sanction more severe than apology.
“It recommends that Mr Burns should be suspended from the service of the House for seven days.”
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