Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has formally corrected the parliamentary record after it was revealed he inaccurately referred to himself as a former solicitor during a 2014 Commons debate. Reynolds, who made the claim while discussing high-speed rail, stated on Wednesday that he had made an “inadvertent error” by not specifying that he was a trainee solicitor at the time.
In his statement to the House of Commons, Reynolds said: “I should have made clear that specifically that was a reference at the time of being a trainee solicitor. This was an inadvertent error, and although this speech was over a decade ago, as it has been brought to my attention, I would like to formally correct the record.”
The term “solicitor” is legally protected, and it is an offense for someone to use the title if they are not qualified and registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Reynolds had already apologized to Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the mistake.
The issue came to light after the SRA investigated Reynolds’ LinkedIn profile, which had listed one of his former roles as “solicitor.” He was also accused of describing himself as a solicitor on a now-defunct constituency website. While the LinkedIn profile was corrected, the SRA initially decided not to take further action, stating there was “no need.”
However, the regulator reopened its investigation in February after Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick accused Reynolds of “criminal conduct” and demanded a new inquiry. The SRA cited “further information” as the reason for revisiting the case but did not provide specific details.
Reynolds has maintained that his use of the term “solicitor” in the 2014 speech was shorthand and not intended to misrepresent his professional background. He told the Guardian last month: “Over a decade ago, I used shorthand in a speech that was not about the legal profession or legal regulation. I apologise for that, but I don’t think anyone would have interpreted it as misrepresentation.”
He also criticized the Conservative Party for what he described as “personal attacks” aimed at distracting the government.
The correction underscores the importance of accuracy in public statements, particularly for senior officials.
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