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Boris Johnson’s failure to authorize an investigation into the controversial approval of a billion-pound housing project by his housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, also influenced the recent resignation of the prime minister’s ethics adviser.
Alex Allan resigned from his post last month after the prime minister annulled his advice and cleared Interior Secretary Priti Patel of allegations of intimidation.
Legal and Whitehall sources have revealed, however, that Allan was already concerned that the prime minister had not requested an investigation to examine the controversy surrounding Jenrick’s endorsement of a billionaire Richard Desmond’s housing development that would help the party’s donor. Conservative to avoid tax of 45 million pounds. .
After sitting next to Desmond at a fundraising dinner, Jenrick overruled the Tower Hamlets local authority in East London and the government planning inspection to give permission for the development. Desmond donated £ 12,000 to the party a fortnight after permission was granted.
Johnson had sole authority to request an investigation into Jenrick’s conduct when the revelations surfaced over the summer, a process that would have been overseen by Allan. Jenrick has denied any wrongdoing or bias, but admitted that his decision was “illegal for apparent bias.”
John Biggs, the Labor mayor of Tower Hamlets, said Allan’s apparent unease on various issues reflected what he called a “comprehensive ethical vacuum” at the heart of government.
He added: “This does not surprise me at all. The lack of action shows a more complete ethical vacuum. “
Meanwhile, a new poll shows the extent to which Johnson’s decision to override Allan’s advice and support Patel, despite a report that his behavior had violated the ministerial code, has hurt the government.
Almost half (43%) of the British public say their trust in the government declined due to its handling of harassment complaints, according to Opinium’s poll with Compassion in Politics.
A fifth of Tory supporters said the issue had reduced confidence in their own party.
Alex Thomas, director of programs for the Institute of Government, said that the Jenrick and Desmond saga exposed the situation where the prime minister has the absolute authority to initiate misconduct investigations and also has the final say on their results.
Thomas, who was a senior official for 17 years and was the private secretary to Chief of Civil Service Jeremy Heywood from 2016 to 2018, added: “It is important that the allegations are investigated and it is also important that there is independent oversight. For the health of the system, [the issue] it would benefit from a proper investigation without prejudice to the outcome. “
