Wednesday, June 06, 2012
For Warsi read Hunt
Admittedly I have been out of circulation for a few days due to a trip to the Hay Festival but I cannot see the logic in David Cameron asking for Baroness Warsi to be investigated for a possible breach of the ministerial code, but not Jeremy Hunt.
Since regaining full internet access I have discovered that I am not alone in this view. The most authorative appears to be that of Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. According to today's Telegraph he has described the inconsistency as 'bizarre':
Sir Alistair said: “The case is very strong. If there is found to be no substance to the allegation then that is fine, but at least people will have seen that in an important case that due process has been observed.”
Mr Hunt’s special adviser, Adam Smith, quit last month over his contacts with executives from the Murdoch empire.
The Ministerial Code says that ministers are responsible for the behaviour of their advisers. The Leveson Inquiry heard last week that Mr Hunt knew that Adam Smith was in regular contact with News Corporation during the company's bid to take over BskyB but gave his aide no clear guidelines about his conduct.
Sir Alistair said that meant Mr Hunt’s potential breach of ministerial rules is much more serious than Lady Warsi’s.
He said: “If in fact Hunt failed to properly supervise Adam Smith – there is a possibility that Hunt may have known what he was doing – that is not a technical breach, that is a serious breach of some substance.”
Clearly Liberal Democrat Ministers will not be in a position to vote against this decision in the House of Commons but other Lib Dem MPs will, and Nick Clegg should make it clear to the Prime Minister that a proper investigation needs to be undertaken into this matter.
Since regaining full internet access I have discovered that I am not alone in this view. The most authorative appears to be that of Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. According to today's Telegraph he has described the inconsistency as 'bizarre':
Sir Alistair said: “The case is very strong. If there is found to be no substance to the allegation then that is fine, but at least people will have seen that in an important case that due process has been observed.”
Mr Hunt’s special adviser, Adam Smith, quit last month over his contacts with executives from the Murdoch empire.
The Ministerial Code says that ministers are responsible for the behaviour of their advisers. The Leveson Inquiry heard last week that Mr Hunt knew that Adam Smith was in regular contact with News Corporation during the company's bid to take over BskyB but gave his aide no clear guidelines about his conduct.
Sir Alistair said that meant Mr Hunt’s potential breach of ministerial rules is much more serious than Lady Warsi’s.
He said: “If in fact Hunt failed to properly supervise Adam Smith – there is a possibility that Hunt may have known what he was doing – that is not a technical breach, that is a serious breach of some substance.”
Clearly Liberal Democrat Ministers will not be in a position to vote against this decision in the House of Commons but other Lib Dem MPs will, and Nick Clegg should make it clear to the Prime Minister that a proper investigation needs to be undertaken into this matter.
