Peterborough MP Paul Bristow dismisses conflict of interest claims after wife takes over lobbying firm

The Conservative MP founded PB Consulting, a specialist healthcare communications company which boasts a host of clients including two parliamentary groups.

Since winning the city seat in December Mr Bristow has handed ownership of the company to his wife Sara, prompting an article in the Huffington Post where he is accused of a potential conflict of interest by Labour.

But Mr Bristow has robustly denied the suggestion and insisted that his wife’s ownership of the company is only a temporary measure during a wider company restructuring, while adding that she is currently on maternity leave.

Shadow health minister Justin Madders told the HuffPost that Mr Bristow could “potentially have benefited from lobbying on behalf of private healthcare companies” and that he should “urgently clarify his position and be more transparent with his interests”.

But in response Mr Bristow, who has put his wife ownership of the company on his MP’s register of interests, said: “It is well known that I ran and owned a communications company. I even put it on my leaflets because I’m proud of its achievements.

“For most of last year I was campaigning in elections instead. When I finally got elected I removed myself from my former company entirely. Being Peterborough’s MP is all I am or should be doing.

“My wife is on maternity leave, looking after our new-born daughter. She has temporarily taken ownership of the company, but this is only because a management buyout and wider restructuring will take some months to achieve.

“Those are no longer matters for me. There has been no conflict of interests and nor has anyone said what they would have done differently in my position. I have been clear, transparent and public about everything.”

Mr Bristow has spoken vocally on the issue of health in Parliament, including in his maiden speech, while he has also made reference in the Commons to the fact his wife now owns the business.

His wife has worked for the company for five years in a senior role.