Business Secretary apologises to PM after claims he exaggerated legal career
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has accepted an apology from Jonathan Reynolds after the Business Secretary was accused of misrepresenting his legal career.
Mr Reynolds worked as a trainee solicitor in Manchester but left his legal career behind when he entered politics.
He has been accused of describing himself as a solicitor on his LinkedIn page, in the Commons and on an old constituency website that is no longer online.
The term “solicitor” is legally protected and it is an offence for someone to call themselves a solicitor if they are not qualified and registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Apology
Downing Street said Mr Reynolds had written the Prime Minister a letter apologising for the “inadvertent errors”.
“He’s written to the Prime Minister offering an unreserved apology for inadvertent errors made and he’s provided an explanation and an apology that the Prime Minister has accepted,” Sir Keir’s official spokesman said.
“The Prime Minister and the Business Secretary are focused on delivering on the plan for change and delivering on the priorities of British people, driving growth in the economy, and the Prime Minister looks forward to continuing to work with the Business Secretary on that agenda.”
“Human error”
Downing Street said there would not be any change to Mr Reynolds’ work while the SRA looks into him.
The regulator initially said it was not taking any action but then said it would look into Mr Reynolds after “further information” came to light.
It has not launched a formal investigation.
According to the SRA, “it is a criminal offence for someone to call themselves a solicitor or act as a solicitor if they are not on the roll of solicitors”.
This could include someone “describing themselves as a solicitor on their social media profiles”.
Previously a Labour source suggested the reference to him being a solicitor on his LinkedIn profile was “human error” and said Mr Reynolds did not manage the profile.
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First, Reeves doctored her CV with false claims, and now Reynolds. Yet, Starmer was so sanctimonious, claiming the high moral ground when the Tories were in power. Both are still in their jobs and have not been reprimanded by the PM. Can you imagine how ordinary citizens would be treated if they made false claims on their applications for a job?
…and let’s not forget Reeves publishing a book as her own work when she had plagiarised large chunks of it. The ‘inadvertent mistake’ excuse was used to explain that one away as well. Nobody accidentally calls themselves a solicitor any more than anybody accidentally copies twenty blocks of text from other sources and passes it off as their own work.
Come on Labour, sort out the act, you don’t want to be like UKIP/BrexitReform and the Tory party.
Convenient excuse!!
It seems to be a regular misrepresentation of ability until the real facts come to light!!
Labour like the Conservatives before them assume lying is now the accepted norm in this idiocratic era of populism and alternative facts. Whether it’s Chancellor Rachael Reeves inflating her experience at the Bank of England , it’s Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds who like Billy Liar who stretches the truth about his legal career credentials. What about PM Keir Starmer who said in his mind numbing voice on becoming leader , “country before party” , but Neil Kinnock said of Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens when she was appointed to the role, “party before country” when it came to Wales. As said… Read more »
This happens often in Labour Party circles. One of the most glaring examples is former AM Jane Davidson who uses the title ‘Dr’ in her new found circles of taxpayer funded eco-quangos. This is despite never doing a PhD. Not even a masters. The title was only awarded honourably after the merger of UniGlam with Cardiff. Gong for favour. Should be exposed.
Being a solicitor is a protected profession meaning it is a crime represent yourself as one, it is the law that should be enforced, not some apology given while out of the country to a sympathetic journalist.