Navendu Mishra, a British Labour MP, recently faced scrutiny for accepting a sponsored trip to multiple cities in India earlier this year. The trip, valued at £11,304.50, was funded by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of India’s largest business lobbying groups.
A Labour Party spokesperson defended Mishra, stating: “Navendu Mishra has consistently declared his interests when speaking in parliament. Upon realizing that he had not done so for written questions, he has informed the Commons registrar.”
The spokesperson further emphasized: “As an MP of Indian heritage, Navendu’s written parliamentary questions reflect a legitimate and longstanding interest in issues related to India. They do not, and have never, signified any commercial interests.”
According to the MPs' Code of Conduct, members are required to disclose any relevant interests when submitting written parliamentary questions.
Mishra’s questions reportedly touched on various topics, such as Indian applications for British visas, the presence of British civil servants in India, and potential U.K. support for India gaining a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
Rose Whiffen, from the advocacy group Transparency International UK, voiced concerns over such sponsored trips. She warned: “When foreign organizations fund all-expenses-paid trips for MPs, there is a clear risk — whether in perception or reality — that the generosity of their hosts could influence the judgment or decisions of parliamentarians.”
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