Reform UK MP James McMurdock has removed himself from the party after allegations emerged about his business dealings during the Covid pandemic. The South Basildon and East Thurrock MP contacted Reform chief whip Lee Anderson on Saturday to confirm he had “removed the party whip from himself” while an investigation takes place.

Mr Anderson released a statement shortly after. “I have today received a call from James McMurdock who has advised me, as Chief Whip, that he has removed the party whip from himself pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations that are likely to be published by a national newspaper,” Mr Anderson said in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter. “The allegations relate to business propriety during the pandemic and before he became an MP.

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“At Reform UK we take these matters very seriously and James has agreed to cooperate in full with any investigation.

“We will not be commenting further at this moment.”

Mr McMurdock became an MP in the 2024 general election, which saw Nigel Farage’s Reform UK secure four seats.

It then emerged that the Sunday Times published a story which claimed Mr McMurdock took out Covid loans totalling £70,000 relating to two businesses.

Following the emergence of the report and Mr Anderson’s statement, Mr McMurdock said that “all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations”.

In a statement on X on Saturday afternoon, Mr McMurdock said he asked for the whip to be suspended as a “precautionary measure” and “for the protection of Reform UK”.

Referring to a conversation with a journalist, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock said: “I confirmed to the journalist that all my business dealings had always been conducted fully within the law and in compliance with all regulations, and that appropriately qualified professionals had reviewed all activity confirming the same.”

McMurdock, 39, was relatively unknown in politics before narrowly winning South Basildon and East Thurrock for Reform UK in the 2024 general election. He secured the seat by just 98 votes.

His suspension is likely to be seen as a setback for party leader Nigel Farage, who has already seen one of Reform’s original MPs, Rupert Lowe, step down following an internal dispute.

The party has since gained another MP after winning a by-election in which Sarah Pochin was elected.