Business secretary warned by SRA over false solicitor claims

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has escaped prosecution by the SRA for repeatedly referring to himself as a solicitor - despite never qualifying.

Instead, as first reported by The Telegraph, the SRA has given Reynolds a slap on the wrist and a warning: if it happens again, he could face criminal charges.

The investigation

The SRA first looked into Reynolds in January over claims his LinkedIn profile listed himself as a solicitor. That was corrected, and the matter was initially closed.

However, in February, the regulator reopened the probe after media reports and pressure from shadow justice secretary (and former City lawyer) Robert Jenrick, highlighting other instances where Reynolds claimed the title.

These included a 2014 speech to Parliament in which Reynolds said he had "worked as a solicitor in Manchester city centre", and wording on his campaign website that described himself as having been a solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard.

In reality, Reynolds left Addleshaws nine months into his training contract in 2010 to become an MP. He never qualified.

After criticism, Reynolds apologised publicly in March. Speaking in the Commons, he formally corrected the Parliamentary record and described the mistake as "an inadvertent error".

Outcome

Describing yourself as a solicitor when you’re not qualified is a criminal offence under the Solicitors Act 1974.

This week, the SRA said it would not prosecute Reynolds, saying it didn’t consider action "proportionate or in the public interest". It did still issue a clear warning, though, that any repeat of the behaviour could change that decision.

Writing about the news on X, Robert Jenrick said: "In the real world Reynolds would have lost his job".