UK PM breaks ministerial code over Fox

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) stressed that David Cameron “almost certainly” breached the ministerial code over the recent issue of the controversial links between Fox and his friend Adam Werritty.

Fox resigned his defense post last October after an inquiry found that his links with his self-style adviser had breached the code. Because it was revealed that Werritty, a longtime personal friend, had been traveling abroad while representing himself as an official emissary of the defense minister with Fox’s knowledge.

Cameron’s former adviser on ministerial interests Philip Mawer, who resigned just after Fox’s scandal, voiced his “frustration” that the PM did not ask him to deal with Fox’s case.

CSPL’s chairman Christopher Kelly also shared Mawer’s apprehensions on Tuesday, believing Cameron should have called Mawer in to handle the issue.

Kelly urged the authorities to reform the rules in a way to allow the adviser on ministerial interests to conduct investigations on his own initiative, rather than waiting for the PM to authorize the inquiry.

“On this occasion, I think he should have been employed. Indeed, I think it was almost certainly a breach of the ministerial code that he was not employed,” Kelly said while addressing Public Administration Committee.

“Just like the parliamentary commissioner (on standards), the adviser should be able to initiate inquiries of their own where there is a prima facie case to investigate, whereas at the moment he is only able to do so at the request of the Prime Minister.”

SAB/JR/HE

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes