UPDATED 16th December 2019 & February 2023
I rightly declared the shares owned by my husband (now ex) as required in 2015 to the House of Commons Registrar and it's very frustrating to see this misinformation raised across various platforms. For clarity these were never my shares but due to transparency rules, all spousal connections or holdings in any company or sector have to be made public. At no point, since being the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex have I had any connection to this company. This is an explanation for those asking whether, or inferring that, I have any links to the current town centre redeveloper in Burgess Hill.
For clarity I have been divorced since 2017, separated since 2015 and I contacted the House of Commons Registrar about this incorrect entry in November 2019 when this was raised to me across social media. It was a surprise that this had not been correct for some time as I have also signed the Ministerial code several times since my divorce. I declared shares as required due to my marriage which were never mine and belonged to my ex-husband, despite our parting in 2015. This had to remain on my record for transparency until our divorce in 2017. He no longer works in the sector or for that business, in fact, it's my understanding that he was part of their pub and leisure portfolio for the final part of his employment which ceased some time ago.
Somehow there had been a long-running recording error and when I updated the House of Commons Registrar on my divorce it was not acted upon and that affected what was displayed. This is both disappointing and pretty unhelpful. I pointed this out that this was incorrect and now do understand that my changes had not been actioned from some time back. There was an investigation into how this happened and I received a formal apology from the House of Commons Registrar on the 16th December 2019.
Sadly as the previous Parliamentary session had ceased, my records cannot be publicly rectified and/or now adjusted which I find unfair and personally unhelpful. However, apparently this is how the system works !!
To anybody who wishes to understand more they are welcome to double check by calling the Commons Registrar, who suggested I write this note on my own website. My current registration shows I have no links to this business.
I want to see our villages and three towns thrive and will always hold all stakeholders to account on behalf of residents and businesses which I have a consistent and energetic record of and I am very proud to continue.