MPs should not ask Parliamentary Questions or write letter to Ministers that advantage businesses which make donations to them... 1/? #transparencymatters https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1306506149617860615

In this case, the Standards Commissioner, and the Standards Committee concluded that the breach of the rules was 'inadvertent'. The Rules of Conduct are not long, and are published in the Code of Conduct: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmcode/1882/188202.htm#_idTextAnchor007 2/?

The 'paid advocacy rule' was introduced in this form in 1995, following the 'cash-for-questions' affair , which also resulted in Neil Hamilton MP's defeat to white-suited Independent candidate, journalist Martin Bell at the next General Election. 3/?

The @HouseofCommons publishes a helpful guide to the Code of Conduct for MPs: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmcode/1882/1882.pdf. 4/?

... and even helpful definitions, in order that the rules are clear (see the advice at the top of this thread). 5/5