Ministerial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of Interest Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Ministerial Appointments: Vetting and Managing Conflicts of Interest

Toby Perkins Excerpts
Monday 23rd January 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Quin Portrait Jeremy Quin
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I have every confidence that my right hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon will be totally open with the independent adviser who will be producing a report for the Prime Minister so that the facts can be fully established.

Toby Perkins Portrait Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)
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With respect, the Minister is attempting to balance on the head of a pin when it comes to Richard Sharp’s involvement in the loan to the former Prime Minister. He may not have provided advice and he may not have arranged it, but he was clearly involved in the introduction. On that basis, should he not have made the declaration referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff West (Kevin Brennan) when he appeared before the Committee?

Jeremy Quin Portrait Jeremy Quin
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Obviously Mr Sharp felt that that was not required, and that that was not the case. I understand that a process was put in place to separate him from the loan arrangement. As I have said, Mr Sharp has asked a senior non-executive director at the BBC to ensure that all matters relating to disclosure were followed correctly by him in this process.