Robert Jenrick appearance of bias to Tory donor
11th May 2020
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick has admitted that his planning decision in favour of Tory donor Richard Desmond showed apparent bias.
Timeline
This is the timeline:
- November 2019: Robert Jenrick & Richard Desmond sat at the same table at a Conservative Party fundraising event
- 14th January 2020: Jenrick overruled the local council (Tower Hamlets) and the Planning Inspectorate to give planning permission to Tory donor Richard Desmond for a large housing development in East London
- 15th January 2020: Tower Hamlets' Community Infrastructure Levy came into force, and it would have cost Desmond at least £40 million for education and health projects
- 29th January 2020: Richard Desmond gave £12,000 to the Conservative Party. He has previously given money to the Tories and to UKIP
The department and Jenrick looked at the matter again, and Jenrick accepted that there was apparent bias in his decision. He will not be involved in further decisions about the project
Our party funding system is broken, and open to abuse
The UK's party funding system is broken, and open to abuse. Give money to the Conservative Party and you get access to Ministers or even the Prime Minister. But we're asked to forget what we know about human nature, and believe that this doesn't result in special privileges for those rich enough to get involved.
If this was happening in another country, I know what we would call it.
Genuinely, if you give at least £50,000 to the Conservatives, you can join the "Leaders Group" and go to dinners with Conservative ministers. It's unbelievable.
Conservative spokeswoman
A Conservative spokeswoman said, 'Government policy is in no way influenced by party donations - they are entirely separate.' But a bald assertion is not proof. Again we are being asked to forget about human nature.
She also said donations to her party are declared to the Electoral Commission and published. The trouble is, writing money down on a piece of paper doesn't rob it of its ability to influence those who receive it.
Memo to Andrew Jones MP & Co
We have a system of party funding which is broken and open to abuse. It leaves our politics open to special favours.
Will I get favours from Conservative ministers? No, they don't know who I am. What if I start giving a lot of money to the Conservatives? Then I get to go to dinners and meet them, and who knows?
The system stinks. Along with introducing a fair voting system, reforming party funding should be a top priority for any UK government.
Andrew Jones MP should argue for this reform. The Conservatives should put aside the narrow financial interests of their party, and do what is right for the country. I invite Mr Jones to start speaking up about this issue as soon as possible.