A DUP MP and an Ulster Unionist peer are among a group of Westminster representatives who have been accused of potentially breaching lobbying rules by failing to declare an interest ahead of asking parliamentary questions.
Sammy Wilson and Lord Denis Rogan were part of a cross-party group that visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in January this year on a “fact-finding” trip.
The British government does not recognise northern Cyprus, which has only been recognised by Turkey since the island was divided five decades ago.
Mr Wilson and Lord Rogan declared the all-expenses paid trip on the Commons’ and Lords’ registers of financial interests, respectively.
They said the visit was to “learn about the country’s political system, history, culture, and economy”.
However, an investigation by Democracy for Sale found that they did not highlight their interest ahead of asking questions in their respective chambers.
The MPs’ and Lords’ codes of conduct state that when asking parliamentary questions “members must indicate any relevant interest on the question form”.
Parliamentarians are also not allowed to “initiate parliamentary proceedings” that could have “any financial or material benefit” for a foreign government, non-governmental organisation or other agency “which has, within the previous 12 months, funded a visit they have undertaken or provided them with hospitality”.
Mr Wilson tabled a total of eight questions, including asking about Greek troop numbers in southern Cyprus and maritime shipping routes to northern Cyprus. The East Antrim MP also penned opinion pieces arguing that the British government should support independence for northern Cyprus.
Lord Rogan, UUP leader in the House Of Lords, who made two separate trips to northern Cyprus, the first in January last year, asked five questions.
He queried the government on “when they intend to review official travel advice for UK nationals visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”
Neither the DUP nor Ulster Unionists have commented on the matter.
Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, a member of the Committee on Standards on Public Life, said parliamentarians must always act to high standards.
He said he believed MPs and peers should have declared an interest in such circumstances.
“There are so many red lights flashing here – let’s not forget that these are parliamentarians going to a territory that lacks legitimacy, that is subject to UN resolutions.”
Mr Blackford has written to Westminster’s standards commissioner calling for an investigation.
The trips were organised by Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus, a campaign group that has been working with a London-based PR firm run by Thomas Borwick, the son of a Conservative peer.
Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus aims “to show the need for the TRNC to be recognised as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation state.”
