House of Commons · Urgent Question
24 November 2025 · 20 other contributors
Opened by Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Alex Burghart raised concerns about ministerial code 2025-11-24 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm that the Government will take immediate steps to address breaches of the ministerial code, particularly in relation to pre-Budget briefing and conflicts of interest involving David Kogan and the Prime Minister?
Question
Will the Minister condemn recent pre-Budget briefings that have spooked the markets? How much money did the Prime Minister receive from Mr Kogan?
Minister reply
Whenever something has come up, we have always followed processes and acted. The ministerial code is strengthened to ensure public service at its heart.
Question
What more can he say about the reforms that will follow the establishment of the Ethics and Integrity Commission?
Minister reply
We have established the Ethics and Integrity Commission and abolished ACOBA, which means there are financial penalties for ex-Ministers who break any rules on jobs.
Question
Will he look to review the UK Budget scrutiny process and enshrine the ministerial code into law?
Minister reply
We have no plans to put the ministerial code on a statutory footing. It is right that it remains a political document directed by the Prime Minister.
Question
What is the Minister’s response to those who served in the previous Government having the brass neck to lecture this Government on standards in public life?
Minister reply
It is ironic to be asked about standards by a former PPS to a Prime Minister who did much to corrode trust in government.
Question
Is it not a genuine question for the whole House whether having the Prime Minister appointing the independent adviser on ministerial standards is still fit for purpose?
Minister reply
To my mind, one cannot get away from the character of the Prime Minister and his or her relationship to that appointment. What matters is that if the post of adviser is vacant, it will not be allowed to remain so. Unlike under the previous Government, it will be appointed and the person will be respected.
Question
Could the Minister touch a little more on the scope of the Ethics and Integrity Commission?
Minister reply
The Ethics and Integrity Commission was a vital part of our manifesto commitment to restoring trust in Government. Its scope has been set out clearly in the public domain and it will, over time, establish its reputation as a core driver of standards across the state, across Government and across the public sector.
Question
Can the Minister confirm that people worried about their local health services will not see a huge amount of money going to pharmaceutical companies at the behest of an outside player?
Minister reply
I can assure the hon. Member, given the respect that the Government pay to this House and to their obligations in it, that if there is an important policy announcement to be made, it will be made to this House.
Question
When the independent adviser reports on a breach of the ministerial code, who adjudicates whether to take further action?
Minister reply
In this country, we have a political constitution—it is one of the great strengths of this country—and, ultimately, therefore, the Prime Minister answers to this House and this House answers to the people.
Question
Does the Minister agree that the former Environment Secretary should correct the record after being rebuked by UK Statistics Authority for misleading statements?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for drawing my attention to that issue. I do not know the details of it, but I am happy to look into it and to refer that to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Question
At what point did the Prime Minister know personally that he was signing off a Labour donor as chair of the football regulator?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend and neighbour the Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy), has set out already in extensive detail to the House the background to the appointment of David Kogan as the chair of the Independent Football Regulator.
Question
How much did the Prime Minister receive in donations from Mr Kogan and when did he declare them?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledged, as I have said before, that in retrospect it would have been better if he had not been given a note on the appointment or confirmed that he was content with it. That is why he has expressed his sincere regret for what was an unfortunate error.
Question
How much did Mr Kogan give to the Prime Minister’s leadership campaign?
Minister reply
As I say, the Prime Minister acknowledged that in retrospect it would have been better if he had not been given a note on the appointment or confirmed that he was content with it. That is why he has expressed his sincere regret for what was an unfortunate error.
Question
Will the Minister confirm which NHS services will lose funding to pay for £1 billion redundancies?
Minister reply
Order. That is not relevant to the urgent question.
Question
Why has the Prime Minister not referred himself to the ethics adviser for breaching the ministerial code?
Minister reply
The independent adviser on appointments is the person to whom the Prime Minister wrote about his own ministerial interests in order to be very clear about his involvement in the process and the recusal arrangements in place. He has expressed his sincere regret for what was an unfortunate error.
Question
Does the Minister recognise that the pre-Budget circus of leaks, briefings and chaotic U-turns in No. 10 has only made it harder for already struggling councils to plan ahead?
Question
How can the Minister justify severance pay to the former Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, who had to resign in disgrace?
Minister reply
As the hon. Member knows, we have changed that policy. When the changed policy comes into force at the end of October, it will apply to all future such situations.
Question
How much cash did David Kogan give the Prime Minister?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister wrote to the independent adviser on ministerial interests to set out his involvement in the process and the recusal arrangements in place. He has expressed his sincere regret for what was an unfortunate error.
Question
The Minister has been given an impossible task as a junior minister, but the House surely deserves to know how much cash was transferred to the Prime Minister by someone who received a £130,000-a-year sinecure. Will he undertake to come back and give the House an answer?
Minister reply
As I said, after the Prime Minister wrote to the independent adviser on ministerial interests, he expressed his sincere regret for what was an unfortunate error.
Question
What steps will the Minister take to give Members confidence that Ministers will adhere to the code and ensure correct working order of this House?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for that question. After realising I did not direct the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, I am pleased to clarify that the Government are already engaged with the content of their inquiry and look forward to considering any recommendations in their report.
Government Response
Trust in Government and in politics is at an all-time low. The ministerial code has been strengthened to raise standards expected of Ministers, including giving new powers to the independent adviser, closing loopholes on gifts and hospitality, doubling the frequency of publication of information about Ministers’ interests from twice yearly to quarterly, setting up the Ethics and Integrity Commission as promised in our manifesto, reforming the business appointment rules system, and introducing reforms in relation to ministerial severance payments. The Government take their obligations to the House very seriously.