Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ministers’ Personal and Lifestyle Costs: Vulnerability to Outside Influence

Thursday 13 January 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministers are subject to the ministerial code requiring no conflict between public duties and private interests.
  • The Paymaster General stated that characterising the Foreign Secretary's actions as a conflict of interest is ridiculous.
  • Lord Geidt assessed that no conflict of interest arose from support provided to the Prime Minister by Lord Brownlow.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Standards & Ethics
Context

Concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving Cabinet Ministers' personal costs funded by donors.

Question

If he will take steps to reassure the public that Cabinet Ministers' personal and lifestyle costs are not being funded by donors and therefore vulnerable to outside influence.

Answer from Michael Ellis

All Ministers are subject to the ministerial code, which requires Ministers to ensure that no conflict arises, or could arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific steps to reassure the public about funding sources for ministers' personal costs.

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Q2 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Standards & Ethics
Context

A Foreign Secretary overruled civil servants' advice to attend a £3,000 lunch in a private members' club owned by a Tory donor.

Question

It was so good to hear the Paymaster General praising civil servants, so could he please explain why the Foreign Secretary overruled civil servants' advice and went to a £3,000 lunch in a private members' club owned by a Tory donor, and he calls that abiding by the code? Will the Paymaster General immediately include that in the investigation being undertaken into the other boozy parties in No. 10 Downing Street?

Answer from Michael Ellis

It is absolutely ridiculous to characterise the matter in the way that the hon. Lady does. The reality of the matter is that the Labour party engages in trade union entertainment on every possible occasion. There is no conflict of interest in the matter she describes. Indeed, all the matters that are brought to the attention of the relevant authorities are properly dealt with.

Not addressed: The answer does not address the specific actions of the Foreign Secretary or their inclusion in investigations.

How: It Is Absolutely Ridiculous To Characterise The Matter In The Way That The Hon. Lady Does.

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Q3 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

WhatsApp messages surfaced where the Prime Minister discussed his flat renovation with Lord Brownlow, who proposed a great exhibition festival in return.

Question

It would seem to be quite a hard life being a Prime Minister at the moment. In WhatsApp messages to Lord Brownlow that surfaced last week, the Prime Minister described his No. 11 flat as a “bit of a tip” that is desperately in need of a lick of paint, some gold wallpaper and the offices of a leading fashion designer. In return for expediting this, the Prime Minister assured Lord Brownlow that he would take a look at his idea for a great exhibition festival. So we have a new term in British politics: wallpaper for access. Can the Minister give a serious explanation as to why this exchange with Lord Brownlow was not passed on to the independent adviser on ministerial interests but was passed on to the Electoral Commission for its investigation? Out of interest, does he have the Prime Minister's new number?

Answer from Michael Ellis

As set out in the letter, Lord Geidt has not changed his assessment that no conflict of interest arose from the support provided by Lord Brownlow. The Prime Minister correctly declared an interest, as required under the ministerial code, and Lord Geidt now considers the matter closed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide a serious explanation for why the exchange was passed to the Electoral Commission rather than the independent adviser on ministerial interests.

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