What is the Register of Members' Financial Interests?
A plain-language guide to the UK parliamentary register — what MPs must declare, how it works, and how to search it.
The purpose of the register
The Register of Members' Financial Interests is a public record maintained by the House of Commons. Its purpose is to make transparent any financial interest or benefit that a Member of Parliament receives which could — in the judgement of a reasonable person — influence what they say or do as an MP.
Parliament has required members to register their interests since 1975. The underlying principle is straightforward: constituents, journalists, and the public should be able to see whether an MP has a financial stake in any matter they speak or vote on.
The register is compiled by the Registrar of Members' Financial Interests, who works within the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and is published on the UK Parliament website. It covers only Members of the House of Commons; the House of Lords maintains its own separate register.
Who must declare, and when
Every sitting Member of Parliament is required to register their interests. The obligation applies from the moment an MP takes their seat:
- Newly elected MPs must register any relevant pre-existing interests within 28 days of taking their seat.
- Any new interest — or a material change to an existing one — must be registered within 28 days of it arising.
- Interests that lapse or end should also be updated promptly so the register reflects current status.
Failing to register a relevant interest, or registering one late, is a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament and can result in a formal investigation by the Commissioner.
What MPs must declare
The register groups declarations into a set of named categories. The main types of interest MPs are required to disclose include:
Employment and earnings
Paid employment outside Parliament — directorships, consultancies, advisory roles, speaking fees, and other income sources.
Donations and support
Financial support for an MP's parliamentary activities, including staffing, office costs, and support for their work as a Member.
Gifts and hospitality (UK)
Gifts, benefits, or hospitality received from UK sources above the registration threshold — currently £300 in value.
Visits outside the UK
Overseas trips where travel, accommodation, or other costs were met by a third party rather than the MP personally.
Gifts from overseas sources
Gifts and benefits received from non-UK sources, including foreign governments, organisations, or individuals.
Land and property
Ownership of land or property in addition to a primary residence, held personally or through a company.
Shareholdings
Shareholdings above the registration threshold — more than 15% of issued share capital, or holdings with a value greater than £70,000.
Miscellaneous
Financial interests not covered by other categories, including certain pension entitlements and financial instruments.
Family members
Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses, and family members engaged in lobbying the public sector on a paid basis.
Not every category requires a monetary value to be declared. Some interests — such as shareholdings or non-financial benefits — are registered to disclose the relationship itself, regardless of whether a pound figure is attached.
How often is it published?
The register is published approximately every two weeks while Parliament is sitting. Each publication is a snapshot of all currently registered interests. Previous versions are retained and remain publicly accessible on the Parliament website.
Because each publication is a discrete snapshot rather than a live feed, it is possible for a gap to exist between when an event occurred and when it appears in the register — MPs have up to 28 days to register a new interest. The publication date shown in MPFolio reflects when the snapshot was published, not necessarily when the underlying activity took place.
What the register does not show
The register is a disclosure tool, not a comprehensive financial statement. Several important limitations apply:
- It does not represent total wealth. Only registrable interests above the relevant thresholds must be declared. An MP may have substantial assets that fall outside the scope of the register.
- It does not imply wrongdoing. An entry in the register is a declaration, not an allegation. The vast majority of registered interests are entirely lawful and routine.
- Declared values may not reflect actual income. Some categories require only a range or a description. Others record gross fees before tax. The figures shown are what was declared, which may differ from net income.
- Timing may not match real events. A donation received in January may not appear in the register until late February, depending on the publication cycle and the 28-day registration window.
How to search the register
The official register is published by UK Parliament as a PDF and CSV download at members.parliament.uk. These documents are updated with each publication but are not designed for search or historical comparison.
MPFolio provides a searchable, change-tracked version of the same data. Every entry links back to the specific register publication it came from, and the diff explorer shows exactly what changed between each release.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of finding a specific MP's declared interests, see How to check your MP's declared interests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Register of Members' Financial Interests?
It is a public record, maintained by the UK House of Commons, in which Members of Parliament must disclose any financial interest or benefit they receive that could reasonably be seen to influence their actions as an MP.
Who is required to register their interests?
All Members of Parliament serving in the House of Commons. Newly elected MPs must register any relevant interests within 28 days of taking their seat.
How often is the register updated?
The register is published approximately every two weeks while Parliament is sitting. Each publication is a new snapshot; previous versions remain publicly available.
What types of interests must MPs declare?
MPs must declare employment and earnings, donations and support for their parliamentary activities, gifts and hospitality, visits outside the UK funded by others, land and property holdings, shareholdings, and certain family employment arrangements.
Where can I search the register?
MPFolio provides a searchable, change-tracked version of the register at mpfolio.co.uk. The official register is also published by UK Parliament at members.parliament.uk.
Does the register show MPs' total wealth?
No. The register shows what MPs are required to declare under parliamentary rules. It does not represent total income, net worth, or comprehensive assets. Many categories require declaration only above a threshold value.
Data shown on MPFolio is sourced from the official UK Parliament Interests API. MPFolio is not affiliated with the UK Parliament. Entries are presented as declared; interpretation is left to users. See our methodology for full details on how data is sourced and processed.