Priti Patel: Labour demands probe after home secretary meets hotel boss

Controversial: Politics & Govt Politics & Govt: In The News
, , ,
1

Covid travel rules were among topics at a lunch attended by Priti Patel last month.

Ministerial rules say officials should be present or informed if government business is discussed.

Ms Patel has denied breaking the rules - but Labour says she has “questions to answer”.

It is understood that she told her private office about the lunch, which reportedly took place on 11 August, after it had happened.

The newspaper also said the meeting at a Heathrow airport hotel was attended by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, the MP for a nearby constituency.

It added that the meeting was requested by Surinder Arora, founder of the Arora Group - a property firm specialising in hotels.

The businessman has previously donated money to former chancellor Philip Hammond, when he was his constituency MP.

The report said the meeting was held at Heathrow Airport’s Hilton Garden Inn, a hotel owned by the group.

The newspaper added the lunch was also attended by Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths and Lisa Tremble, corporate affairs director at British Airways.

The ministerial code - the rulebook for ministers - says officials should be present if they discuss government business with outside organisations.

It adds that if a minister “finds themselves” discussing business without one present, such as at social occasions, they should inform their department of any “significant content” as soon as possible.

According to the Sunday Mirror, topics discussed at the lunch included Covid travel rules, as well as airport and airline regulation. Mr Kwarteng also attended without officials present, the paper reported.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner called for Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to launch an investigation into the meeting, adding Ms Patel had “serious questions to answer”.

Ms Patel’s Labour counterpart, shadow home secretary Nick-Thomas Symonds, said it was “reckless” for her to attend without officials present.

Rules? … What rules? … If the boss ignores them, so do the minions … :man_shrugging:

2

They wouldn’t have to write the comedy “Yes Minister” these days.It’s all going on in reality.

1 Like
3

Sky News: Priti Patel: Javid backs home secretary amid fresh claims she broke ministerial rules at hotel meeting | Politics News | Sky News

Mr Javid, who himself served as home secretary, said: “It’s a really tough job, and she’s doing really well. There’s so many things that she has already done with the legislation that’s been put forward, but I also know as home secretary, you’ll also do a huge amount that never gets into the public eye because it’s not something you can ever talk about publicly. And, I think it’s obvious to me, having done that job, that she’s carrying out that part of the work here, the stuff that’s never in the public, incredibly well.”

Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he … :wink:

Ms Patel was forced to resign as international development secretary in 2017 after unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials but she managed to keep her job earlier this year after being found to have engaged in bullying behaviour towards staff by the then independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Alex Allan.

4

I have always disliked Priti Patel, she has never believed that the rules apply to her, look at her shenanigans with the Israelis and now this. And the bullying alegations which she was found innocent of, but of course she was but the way that Parliament investigates its own leaves a lot to be desired.
Her record as Home Secretary is nothing to write home about but she is just one of a useless cabinet under Johnson, cannot think of one minister that is doing a good job.

1 Like
5

Ms Coffey said she was unaware about the details of Ms Patel’s meeting but told Sky News: “What I am aware of is sometimes you do end up meeting people, perhaps by accident, and you have a conversation.”

Told that Ms Patel’s meeting was not an accident, the work and pensions secretary added: “One of the things, if you’re not there with a private secretary, is that you pass the information on to the officials and then it’s dealt with by the private office. I know from my own experience is sometimes you do see people. As long as you pass on the information, that’s what matters to make sure that the civil servants have the record and they can declare that in the appropriate way.”

Ms Coffey revealed how she met somebody while on holiday but who turned out to be a supplier to her department. I didn’t know them at all but it turns out they were a supplier to DWP," she added. So, again, I share the fact that by chance at somebody’s party that I met somebody who was there. I don’t know details of Priti but it’s important we just make sure it’s transparent in that regard with our civil servants and they can use the information accordingly."

Well, she would say that, wouldn’t she … :roll_eyes:

Life is just serendipity and kismet for Tories … :rofl:

6

Indeed … Priti “Useless” Patel … :grin: