Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has apologised in the House of Commons for not declaring a trip to Israel during a debate on pro-Israel influence in UK politics. The MP for Boston and Skegness acknowledged that he should have mentioned the visit, which was funded by Reform Friends of Israel, when he spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on 22 June.
Although the journey was properly recorded in his register of interests, Tice conceded that parliamentary rules required him to have disclosed it during his speech.
Whilst the trip is properly recorded in my register of interests I should have declared it during the speech. That is a breach of the rules and I apologise to this good House.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards has been examining whether Tice breached rules that require MPs to be transparent when declaring relevant interests during parliamentary proceedings. According to a national broadcaster's report, the watchdog had opened a formal investigation by 3 August 2026, with the probe remaining active as of mid-September.
What was the Israel trip?
The visit took place between 26 and 30 September 2025 and was registered in Tice's interests on 19 October 2025. According to the register, the journey cost an estimated £6,250, covering flights, accommodation, transport and hospitality for two people. During the visit, Tice met Israel's foreign minister and president.
The trip was organised by Reform Friends of Israel, a group linked to broader pro-Israel lobbying efforts in UK politics. Investigative reporting has indicated that the September 2025 delegation involved other Reform figures and that Israeli government-linked funding helped support related visits, adding context to why the journey became politically contentious.
What parliamentary rules apply?
Rule 6 of the House of Commons code of conduct states:
Members must always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its committees, and in any communications with ministers, members, public officials or public office holders.According to financial news coverage, the watchdog was examining a possible breach of this rule.
How did Tice respond to the investigation?
Tice publicly rejected the complaint on social media, saying he was being investigated for
standing against antisemitism. He also described the debate motion as antisemitic, framing his position as a defence against what he characterised as prejudice.
The controversy sits within a broader dispute over pro-Israel lobbying and influence in UK politics. The June 2026 Westminster Hall debate that triggered the investigation was dominated by lobby figures and allied activists, according to reporting on the event.
What is the status of the investigation?
The parliamentary commissioner for standards opened the inquiry on 28 July, with the investigation extended on 20 August. The commissioner has not yet published a decision and the inquiry remains ongoing. No published end-date or decision date for the standards inquiry has been identified in available reports.
The investigation into Tice's Israel trip declaration comes as he faces separate scrutiny over other matters. The standards watchdog decided in late July 2026 not to pursue a separate complaint against Tice over an alleged undeclared loan from George Cottrell, an aide to Reform leader Nigel Farage.
Key Facts
- Tice's Israel trip cost £6,250 and was funded by Reform Friends of Israel, covering flights, accommodation, transport and hospitality for two people
- The visit took place between 26 and 30 September 2025 but was not declared during Tice's speech in a Westminster Hall debate on 22 June 2026
- The parliamentary commissioner for standards opened a formal investigation on 28 July 2026, with the inquiry extended on 20 August and remaining active as of mid-September
- Rule 6 of the House of Commons code requires MPs to be open and frank in declaring relevant interests during parliamentary proceedings
- Tice's apology acknowledges a breach of parliamentary rules, though the commissioner has not yet issued a final decision
