Andrew Jones, Tory MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been found in breach of the IPSA Code – specifically the rules which prohibit MPs from undertaking surveys to support campaign activity. A complaint was submitted by a constituent in December regarding Jones collecting voting intention data from his website under the guise of a ‘Health Survey’ for around six months. Though Jones wasn’t going down without a fight…

Jones published a spicy letter to Ed Davey in which he named and accused the complainant – who he incorrectly referred to as a “Lib Dem activist” – of making “false allegations”. The constituent is now threatening to sue Jones for defamation. While Jones wasn’t found to be in breach of Staffing and Business Costs, IPSA has given him a slap on the wrist for his website activity, ordering him to cease the survey immediately. It’s not the first time Mr Jones has been found breaking the rules…