Richard Tice Apologises Over Undeclared Israel Visit
Richard Tice has apologised in the House of Commons for failing to declare a funded visit to Israel during a debate about pro-Israel influence on UK politics. BBC
Mr Tice is deputy leader of Reform UK and MP for Boston and Skegness. He apologised to MPs after the parliamentary commissioner for standards, the independent official who investigates MPs' conduct, opened an inquiry into the omission. The inquiry continues.
The visit took place between 26 and 30 September 2025 and was funded by Reform Friends of Israel. His entry in the register of interests, the public list of MPs' financial benefits, estimated the cost at £6,250, covering flights, accommodation, transport and hospitality for two people. The entry said he met Israel's foreign minister and president.
Mr Tice recorded the trip in the register on 19 October 2025. He did not mention it during a speech in a Westminster Hall debate, a second chamber used for petitions and backbench debates, on 22 June. That debate concerned e-petition 752646 on UK politics pro-Israel influence. Hansard
Mr Tice told MPs the trip was properly recorded in his register but he should have declared it during the speech. He said the omission was a breach of the rules and apologised.
The commissioner opened an investigation on 28 July into whether Mr Tice failed to declare an interest. The inquiry was extended on 20 August. No decision has yet been published.
Mr Tice had said earlier on X that the standards investigation concerned whether he should have declared an interest at the start of a debate. Reuters He said the complaint stemmed from what he called antisemitic claims of "pro-Israel influence". JTA Early coverage described the Israel visit as an all-expenses-paid trip. Telegraph
His parliamentary register entry lists the purpose of the visit as education and meetings with the president and Foreign Office. UK Parliament A separate entry in the Register of Members' Staff, as at 19 June 2026 and linked to Mr Tice, records an overseas visit to Israel from 5 to 11 November 2025 to study policing, border security, health service and immigration control. UK Parliament
The broader context here is the distinction Westminster draws between registration and declaration. Registration puts an interest on the public record. Declaration requires the Member to draw attention to it when speaking, where it may be thought relevant to the debate. An apology corrects the record. It does not decide the complaint.
Looking at what this means for handling, Mr Tice has conceded the central factual point before adjudication. That leaves the commissioner to assess seriousness and outcome. For Members, the test is relevance at the time of speaking, not whether the interest can be found elsewhere in the published registers. For party managers, the interest lies in containment. A prompt apology limits procedural exposure, even while the file stays open.
