Shadow solicitor general Karl Turner (pictured) is the subject of an inquiry by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, it emerged this week.

The commissioner’s website states that it is investigating an allegation in relation to declaration of interests. 

No further details were provided.

The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards deals with the application of the House of Commons Code of Conduct and related rules that apply to MPs. This includes investigation of allegations that MPs have breached rules set out in part 5 of the code of conduct.

Allegations can be made by a member of the public or an MP.

A spokesperson for Turner told the Gazette he was aware of a complaint that had been made ‘regarding disclosure of declarable interests whilst tabling parliamentary questions on the legal aid duty solicitor procurement process. Karl has never made a secret of the fact that his wife Leanne is a solicitor’.

Leanne Turner is a duty criminal solicitor in Hull and part-time judge.

The spokesperson said: ‘Karl’s role as shadow minister requires him to be asking questions and holding the government to account. On this occasion, a box had to be ticked when asking the question, however this was overlooked in this particular circumstance.

‘This will not happen again and Karl will cooperate fully in the investigation into this matter.’

Turner, who was called to the bar in 2005, joined the Labour party’s justice team in September to work on legal aid and criminal justice issues.

He was elected as MP for Hull East in 2010. He served on the justice committee from 2010 to 2013.