MPs press conflict of interest transparency concerns over Foreign Secretary

LONDON: The Government has come under fire for refusing to reveal if Lord David Cameron has recused himself from parts of his role as Foreign Secretary due to conflicts of interest.

Labour MPs highlighted Lord Cameron’s business connections to the Chinese state since leaving office as prime minister in 2016, as they pressed ministers for answers during the monthly Cabinet Office questions session.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said Lord Cameron had all his interests “properly reviewed” before taking on the role last November. The Times this week reported it had sought answers under Freedom of Information laws, but said the department refused to confirm or deny anything.

Sir Chris Bryant, MP for Rhondda, asked: “Why is it that the Government is still refusing to publish the details of the Foreign Secretary’s financial interests, from before he was appointed to the House of Lords?

“Why is the Government still refusing, despite numerous requests from newspapers and others, to publish whether or not the Foreign Secretary had to recuse himself from certain elements of his job because of his previous involvement with the Chinese state?

“And why is the Government point blank refusing to say which parts of his job he is recused from?” Cabinet Office minister John Glen replied: “The process of ministerial engagement with the register is an ongoing one, where it is updated on ongoing basis.

“And individual ministers, when they are first appointed, they fill out an extensive form which their permanent secretary then reviews.”Labour MP Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) pressed Mr Dowden: “Foreign Office officials have refused to say whether Lord Cameron has recused himself from parts of his role as the Foreign Secretary given his previous well-paid work promoting the China-backed Port City Colombo. “So, can the minister tell the House whether the Foreign Secretary has recused himself from any part of his ministerial duties?”

Mr Dowden replied: “The Foreign Secretary upon taking office, indeed shortly before taking office, had all his interests properly reviewed both by the propriety and ethics team in my department, but also went through them with the independent adviser on ministerial interests.”

Mr Dowden said “all relevant interests” have been set out, adding: “Those have been published so the information is transparently out there for people to be able to judge for themselves.”

Labour former minister Sir Chris made a second attempt to secure an answer from Mr Dowden, asking: “Does the Foreign Secretary stand recused in any aspect of his job by virtue of his financial interests, either now or before he was appointed to his post – yes or no?” Mr Dowden referred Sir Chris to the latest list of ministers’ interests.