Reynolds: I did not misrepresent myself professionally
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has apologised for referring to himself as a solicitor but said it was not “a huge deal”, as Reform UK pledged to bring a private prosecution against him.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to release the letter in which Mr Reynolds apologised to him.
We reported on Friday that the Solicitors Regulation Authority has reopened its investigation into Mr Reynolds after receiving “further information”.
It emerged that he has on occasion described himself as a solicitor, including in a speech in Parliament, when in fact he never qualified, having left during his training contract at Addleshaw Goddard to campaign for election in 2010.
Section 21 of the Solicitors Act 1974 makes it a criminal offence for “any unqualified person who wilfully pretends to be, or takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is, qualified or recognised by law as qualified to act as a solicitor”.
In an interview with The Guardian this week while on a trade trip to India, Mr Reynolds said that “over a decade ago” he had “used shorthand” in a parliamentary speech that was “not a speech about the legal profession or legal regulation or the law”.
“I apologise for that, but again, I don’t think anyone would have interpreted that in any way that I was misrepresenting myself professionally,” he told the newspaper.
“And I just want to be absolutely clear, for a speech, I think, and I think a tweet or maybe a Facebook post over a decade ago – I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but I should apologise for that if anyone has misunderstood that, but I don’t think they have.”
While accusing the Tories of personal attacks aimed at distracting the government, Mr Reynolds said he had written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to apologise and the apology had been accepted.
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith tweeted in response: “Jonathan Reynolds is making excuses – he said it’s ‘not a huge deal’. The Business Secretary lied to Parliament. This is still on the record. He should do the proper thing and resign.”
He also said he had written to Mr Starmer to ask “why he won’t publish the explanation. What has he got to hide?”
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick has led the charge against Mr Reynolds and after the SRA announcement retweeted a photo of what a Conservative councillor in Mr Reynolds’ constituency said was the cabinet minister’s 2015 election leaflet, in which Mr Reynolds said he had been a solicitor.
Mr Jenick said: “More damning evidence against Reynolds. He lied on his election address to his constituents. Is this not another criminal offence?”
Meanwhile, Reform UK argued that Mr Reynolds’ “dishonesty about his career renders him unqualified” to be business secretary.
In a speech on Monday in Cornwall, Reform leader Nigel Farage declared: “I can tell you tonight that there will be a private prosecution brought against Jonathan Reynolds.”
So it isn’t a big deal for ministers to break the law; I wonder if that would be an acceptable defence if faced with the police or regulator!
I was a non-solicitor partner in 2010, and was, and always have been clear to hold myself out as appropriate, so no one thought I was a solicitor partner; he as an aspiring solicitor should have known the same!
As the saying goes, “ignorance of the law is no excuse for its non-obeyance”!