MP sorry for not declaring donation when praising firm

A Labour MP has apologised and referred himself to Parliament's standards watchdog after praising a private company in the House of Commons without declaring it had given him a £10,000 donation.

During a debate about construction standards last month, Steve Yemm, the MP for Mansfield, highlighted battery power firm Power Saving Solutions as "a company that is enabling reduced reliance on diesel-generated power on building sites".

His register of interests states that he accepted a £10,000 donation from the company on 23 April last year but he did not mention this in his speech.

The MPs' code of conduct states "any relevant interest" should be declared when speaking in the Commons.

In a statement, first reported by the Guardian, Yemm said: "I fully apologise for not declaring this interest prior to referencing the work of this company located in my constituency.

"I have made contact with the parliamentary standards commissioner and will formally correct the record at the earliest opportunity."

During a debate on 25 March, Yemm said: "I am keen that councils and house builders look to British industry for solutions in construction.

"My constituency is home to Power Saving Solutions, a company that is enabling reduced reliance on diesel-generated power on building sites, and I learnt recently about [construction company] JCB's response, with its hydrogen-powered combustion unit, which will also reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry.

"Those are two great examples of private sector firms enfranchising themselves in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower."

Yemm, who previously worked in the technology and life sciences sector, was first elected at MP for Mansfield last year, defeating the seat's former Conservative MP Ben Bradley.

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