Jon Trickett MP

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Prime Minister must investigate the serious allegations against Cheryl Gillan MP

 JonTrickett MP, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, has called for the Prime Minister to fully investigate the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan MP, regarding a likely breach of the Ministerial Code in relation to the recent sale of her constituency home..

Jon said:

“If the reports in the national newspapers are accurate, it is very likely that Cheryl Gillan has breached the Ministerial Code. If true this is a shocking abuse of her Ministerial position and shows complete disregard for the constituents she has abandoned as well as the responsibilities and duties that come with her Ministerial post.”

“Gillan has cut and run. She has taken an option that simply wasn’t available to her constituents and her actions have damaged not just her own reputation and credibility but that of the Government.”

“I have written to the Prime Minister, asking him to take immediate action and investigate the very serious allegations with which Ms Gillan is charged.”

Jon’s letter to the Prime Minister:

15^th January 2012

Dear the Rt Hon David Cameron

No doubt you will have seen press comment in this morning’s newspapers about the disposal by the Rt Hon C Gillan MP of a domestic property which is close to the agreed alignment for HS2.

As a member of the Cabinet, no doubt Ms Gillan will have been party to the decision as to the precise alignment.

It has been argued in the press, and by local people, that both the value of the property concerned, as well as the ability to sell the property, may well have been blighted by the agreed alignment. Under these circumstances it is patently clear that the disposal of the property in advance of the final decision on HS2 may well have given rise to a conflict of interest, and would inevitably give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Under these circumstances, Cabinet Ministers are required to notify their relevant Permanent Secretary. If the reports in the newspaper are accurate it seems that the Minister has failed to do so.

I believe therefore that there is a strong case to answer that she stands in breach of the code. I would respectfully request that this matter is immediately investigated in order to determine whether or not there has been a breach (perhaps more than one) of the code of conduct. 

There are three matters which need to be explored:

a)      Was there a breach of the code of conduct as a result of a conflict of interest?

b)      Was there a breach of the code of conduct as a result of actions which might lead to a perception of a conflict of interest

c)       Was there a breach of the code of conduct in the failure by the Minister to inform her Permanent Secretary?

For the sake of simplicity I believe that the possibility of breaches all arise from paragraph 7.7 of the code of conduct  reproduced below.

“Ministers must scrupulously avoid any danger of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between their Ministerial position and their private financial interests. They should be guided by the general principle that they should either dispose of the interest giving rise to the conflict or take alternative steps to prevent it. In reaching their decision they should be guided by the advice given to them by their Permanent Secretary and the independent adviser on Ministers’ interests. “

I look forward to your early reply and agreement to carry out an investigation.

Yours sincerely

Jon Trickett MP