Jim Dobbin MP: Foreign trips and rule breaches

Jim Dobbin is MP for Heywood and Middleton

A BBC investigation has revealed that more than 20 MPs have breached rules in relation to registering and declaring overseas trips paid for by foreign governments.

The trips taken by Jim Dobbin, his relevant parliamentary activities and his reply to the BBC are below.

Gibraltar

The Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton in Greater Manchester, Jim Dobbin, visited Gibraltar in September 2005, September 2007 and September 2008, with the costs being met by the government of Gibraltar.

Mr Dobbin was accompanied by his wife on two of these trips and her costs were also met by the government of Gibraltar.

Following these trips, Mr Dobbin signed seven early day motions relating to Gibraltar without declaring an interest:

1. MAJOR COLIN RISSO AND MAJOR JOHN PEREZ / 18.10.2005 / EDM 789

2. ALBERT POGGIO, OBE / 19.01.2006 / EDM 1433

3. GIBRALTAR NATIONAL DAY / 24.07.2006 / EDM 2640

4. BORDER BETWEEN SPAIN AND GIBRALTAR / 08.05.2008 / EDM 1522

5. BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AND REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY / 28.01.2009 / EDM 624

6. GIBRALTAR AND THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS / 14.05.2009 / EDM 1489

7. TROOPING THE COLOUR / 10.06.2009 / EDM 1644

Reply

Mr Dobbin responded to the BBC saying all his visits to British overseas territories had been declared in the Register of Members' Interests.

He added: "I have written to the Commissioner for Standards seeking guidance and clarification on this matter with reference to representation of overseas territories in the UK Parliament and how this relates to the duties of a Member of Parliament.

"I will, of course, fully accept and abide by the guidance provided by the commissioner."

Other MPs who have breached the rules:

David Amess Norman Baker Crispin Blunt Graham Brady Colin Breed David Burrowes Andrew Dismore Jim Dobbin Alan Duncan Liam Fox Mike Hancock

Lindsay Hoyle Paul Keetch Bob Laxton David Lepper Andrew Love Madeleine Moon Mike Penning Andrew Rosindell Richard Spring Theresa Villiers Rudi Vis