London, Thanasis Gavos

Conducting an investigation regarding the possible omission of a declaration of interest by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the commissioner of parliamentary rules in Britain.

As reported by the office of independent commissioner Daniel Greenberg, the investigation into Sunak has been open since April 13.

Initially, the commissioner did not provide details on the content of the investigation. However, Downing Street sources have confirmed reports that the case is linked to the revelation made weeks ago for holding shares from Mr. Sunak’s wife to a professional child care agency.

The “interest” that Mr. Sunak may have had to declare has to do with the recent government announcement of higher funding for training and hiring more professionals in the field of child care.

The Code of Conduct for members of the House of Commons under which investigations are conducted by the independent commissioner provides that MPs “must always be open and honest in the declaration of any relevant interest in any proceedings in the Parliament or in its committees and in any communication with ministers, MPs, public officials or public office holders”.

British Prime Minister Aksata Murthy’s wife, heir to a huge fortune in India, has shares in London-based childcare company Koru Kids, a fact she had had not made public Mr Sunak when he announced £4bn of extra funding for the sector in the recent Government Budget.

A Downing Street spokesman commented that the Prime Minister’s Office would “be happy to help the commissioner clarify how this has been transparently declared as a ministerial interest”.