DUP MP Gregory Campbell is under investigation by Parliament's expenses watchdog over whether spending from his office-costs budget complied with MPs' funding rules.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's Compliance Officer is examining whether Campbell was paid an amount under the Scheme of MPs' Staffing and Business Costs that should not have been allowed.
The investigation relates to office costs, specifically printed constituency cards, signage and bought-in services.
No finding of wrongdoing has been made, and the opening of an investigation does not establish that Campbell breached the rules.
IPSA investigation opened
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority regulates and administers MPs' business costs, while its Compliance Officer is responsible for investigating whether payments made under the expenses scheme were allowable.
IPSA said the investigation concerning Campbell had been opened on Tuesday.
It said the matter concerns office costs and identified printed constituency cards, signage and bought-in services as the areas under examination.
The watchdog said it would publish no further information until the investigation had concluded.
DUP says Campbell will cooperate
The Democratic Unionist Party said Campbell would fully cooperate with the investigation.
A party spokesperson said Campbell distributes contact-information cards and advice leaflets to homes in his constituency and claimed that what appeared to be a “politicised complaint” had been made about those materials.
That description is the DUP's characterisation of the complaint. IPSA has not said that the complaint was politically motivated.
The party said Campbell had already provided information about the matter and would make no further comment while the process was ongoing.
No conclusion reached
The investigation is concerned with whether money paid under the MPs' funding scheme should have been allowed.
It is not a finding that Campbell improperly claimed public money, nor has IPSA announced that any rule was breached.
The Compliance Officer's role is to examine the evidence and determine whether payments complied with the relevant scheme.
Until that process is complete, the allegations remain unproven.
Campbell represents East Londonderry
Campbell represents East Londonderry at Westminster for the Democratic Unionist Party.
UK Parliament records show that he retained the constituency for the DUP at the 2024 general election.
The investigation concerns parliamentary office spending rather than Campbell's conduct in the House of Commons or any criminal allegation.