THE Liberal Democrat MP Rachel Gilmour has referred herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner after “mistakenly” appointing her son to her staff.

Henry Oliver was reportedly supporting the newly elected MP for Tiverton and Minehead, Ms Gilmour, in the setting up of her office in a “voluntary capacity”.

Rachel Gilmour has since referred herself to the parliamentary standards commissioner.

She said: "This was an honest mistake, Henry was assisting me with the setting up of my office in a voluntary capacity after I was elected.

"This was a voluntary role only and Henry was not employed as a paid staff member.

"As soon as I became aware of this mistake, I rescinded his pass and referred myself to the Standards Commissioner."

Mr Oliver was included in a parliamentary register of interests of members' staff as of 10 January 2025.

According to IPSA parliamentary standards, MPs have been prohibited from employing close relatives since 2017.

According to the UK Parliament website, Rachel Gilmour is not currently under investigation by the Commissioner..

Members of Ms Gilmour’s local constituency have voiced public criticism of the recent ‘mistake’.

James Wright, an Exmoor farmer and South West Chairman of the Conservative Rural Forum, said: “Tiverton and Minehead needs strong leadership from someone who actually cares for our community, not distractions caused by avoidable rule-breaking.

“This is not what our community deserves from its new MP.”

Ms Gilmour won the new constituency of Tiverton and Minehead, which was formed after boundary changes, with a 3.507 majority over the former Conservative MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger in July 2024.

It was her fourth time of standing for parliament, having previously been a Lib Dem candidate most recently in Taunton Deane in 2015 and previously in Totnes and Nottingham North.