Betting and Gaming Council advisor MP facing parliamentary investigation
Laurence Robertson in the crosshairs over allegedly providing paid parliamentary advice to trade body
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has opened an investigation into Laurence Robertson MP in relation to his paid work with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Robertson, who is the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, is currently being investigated by the parliamentary watchdog, with the case opened on 2 May.
The allegation relates to “the agreement to provide and/or provision of paid parliamentary advice”.
This refers to Paragraph 9 of the Code of Conduct for MPs, which states: “Members must not provide, or agree to provide, paid parliamentary advice, including undertaking, or agreeing to undertake services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant.”
According to the public register of members’ financial interests, Robertson declared himself a paid parliamentary adviser on sport and safer gambling to the Betting and Gaming Council.
For this role, Robertson receives £2,000 per month for 10 hours of work, or £24,000 a year on top of his basic annual MP salary of £86,584.
The role dates back to 1 October 2020, two months ahead of the call for evidence for the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review.
Robertson is due to retain his position until 30 September 2023.
A spokesperson for the BGC said: “Laurence Robertson is not a parliamentary adviser to the BGC and he does not give parliamentary advice.
“His contract, last updated in October 2022, makes this absolutely clear and explicitly prohibits him providing parliamentary advice. Therefore his role with the BGC does not represent a breach of parliamentary rules.”
EGR has contacted Robertson’s Westminster office for comment.