Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Sammy Wilson has been accused of breaching parliamentary lobbying rules by asking questions about the occupied north in Cyprus after taking all-expenses-paid trips to the territory, according to an investigation by Democracy For Sale.
Wilson, along with two other MPs and two members of the House of Lords, allegedly failed to declare relevant interests when submitting parliamentary questions about trade, investment, and direct flights to the occupied north following sponsored trips in 2023 and 2024.
The UK does not recognise the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, which has been under Turkey’s effective control since the island’s division five decades ago.
Former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Ian Blackford has called for a full parliamentary investigation into the matter, stating there are so many “red lights flashing”.
The trips were reportedly organised by “Freedom and Fairness for Northern Cyprus”, a campaign group working with a London-based PR firm run by a Conservative peer’s son.
Parliamentary records show a significant increase in questions about northern Cyprus since 2023, with Wilson submitting eight such queries.
The DUP MP declared his January trip to the occupied north in his register of interests but allegedly failed to declare this interest when questioning the government in parliament.
(information from sundayworld.com)
