A SOMERSET MP has apologised to the head of parliamentary standards – because he did not declare a ticket to the Brit Awards in time.

David Warburton has been the Conservative MP for Somerton and Frome since 2015, and currently serves as chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music.

Mr Warburton was one of 250 MPs who voted against suspending the now former MP Owen Paterson in early-November – and one of several subsequently reported in the national press as being under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner.

Mr Warburton has now clarified that this investigation relating to a tardy declaration of a ticket to the Brit Awards, stating he had apologised and the matter had been resolved.

As of Friday (November 12), the official Houses of Parliament website lists Mr Warburton as being currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner under paragraph 14 of the code of conduct – which relates to registration of “gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources”.

However, Mr Warburton said the commissioner had already accepted his apology and that the website had not yet been updated.

He said: “Some national papers (and local people on Twitter) have picked up that I am mentioned as being looked into for proper declaration of interests.

“In fact, this was just because I sent in the form a bit late declaring the Brit Awards ticket I had as chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for music.

“The standards commissioner has accepted my explanation and apology for this, said it was obviously only minor and is taking no further action.

“This was only a few weeks ago, so it looks like their website hasn’t been updated, which gives the impression that there’s still come kind of investigation going on.”