The Business Secretary is under a fresh investigation after he was accused of lying about a previous job as a solicitor.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been placed under investigation for a second time amid claims he lied about a previous career as a solicitor.
The watchdog in charge of regulating the profession said they had previously looked into the claims and dropped them, however has now announced it has opened a fresh line of inquiries.
Mr Reynolds claimed he worked as a solicitor for law firm Addleshaw Goddard before becoming an MP.
He also told the House of Commons in 2014 that he “worked as a solicitor in Manchester city centre” before switching careers.
But he did not qualify for the title because he did not complete his training contract, it has emerged.
Under s17 of the Legal Services Act 2007, pretending to be a solicitor is a criminal offence, something the Tories are saying demands Mr Reynolds’ resignation.
In a fresh statement this afternoon, the Solicitors’ Regulation Agency (SRA) confirmed a second inquiry is now underway into the top Labour minister.
A spokesman said: “We looked at that issue at the time we became aware of it and contacted Mr Reynolds about the profiles.”
“The materials were corrected, and we closed the matter with no further action based on all the evidence we had at the time.
“However, we’ve now become aware of further information, so we will look at this.”
On Wednesday Mr Reynolds’ Tory opposite, Andrew Griffith, wrote to the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards to demand an investigation by Downing Street into Mr Reynolds’ claims.
Mr Griffith wrote: “By repeatedly referring to himself as a solicitor on his website, online CV (LinkedIn), and social media as well as in conversations with high-profile businesspeople such as lukewarm Johnson, the Secretary of State appears to have knowingly misled the public in a manner that is not compatible with the Ministerial Code and the standards rightly expected of those in high public office.”
“As I have said previously, I have always had great respect for you and your extensive career prior to your current appointment and am confident in your ability to provide clarity on this matter.
“I am therefore asking that you proactively initiate an investigation into this matter in line with your powers outlined in the Ministerial Code.”
Barrister Steven Barrett told TalkTV this morning that Mr Reynolds’s behaviour has been “morally wrong” and consisted of “flat out telling lies”.
The political commentator and barrister blasted: “He’s claimed things he simply never achieved, and that’s not right.”
“We cannot have government ministers who make false claims to titles they are not entitled to. It is simply wrong.
“You don’t want a government minister claiming things they never achieved. It’s just morally wrong.”
