The cronyism scandal that has been consuming the Labour Party has continued to grow over the weekend. The ethics adviser to the prime minister has been urged to probe the chancellor regarding the appointment of a party donor to a position in the civil service.
Ian Corfield, who has given a total of twenty thousand pounds to Labour lawmakers over the course of the past ten years, was appointed to the position of temporary director of investment at the Treasury last month. Prior to that, he served as the senior business adviser for the party.
In a letter addressed to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent ethical adviser to the Prime Minister, shadow Treasury Minister Laura Tr will convey her concerns.
It was not necessary to have a public election in order to select Mr. Corfield, who gave Rachel Reeves a donation of five thousand pounds in the year 2023.
Despite the fact that the majority of positions in the civil service are mandated to be filled through “fair and open competition,” departments have the ability to submit an exemption request provided they receive clearance from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
According to sources who spoke to Politico, the regulator was not informed about Mr. Corfield’s previous donations, despite the fact that his employment was approved in accordance with these standards. According to a representative for the administration, all appointments are made “in accordance with the rules that govern recruitment in the civil service.”
Despite the fact that The Times reported yesterday that Mr. Corfield would now be working as an unpaid adviser to the Treasury rather than as a salaried civil servant, Ms. Trott stated that there was a “clear conflict” between Ms. Reeves receiving the donation and using an exception to the rules that govern civil service recruitment in order to make the appointment.
John Glen, a member of parliament and the shadow paymaster general, applauded the decision. However, he continued by saying that it “would be wise for the government to clarify how many former Labour staffers and party donors have been appointed without fair and open competition.”
The protection of the independence and integrity of government servants is something that must be preserved for the benefit of civil servants as much as it is for anybody else.
The move to replace Mr. Corfield’s position, according to Ms. Trott, “only seeks to underline how serious this scandal is.”
In accordance with the regulations that are now in place, Sir Laurie is required to obtain authorisation from the prime minister in order to initiate an inquiry against a minister. However, Sir Keir has stated in the past that the ethics adviser ought to be granted the authority to initiate investigations of his own will as part of an effort to maintain higher standards in Whitehall.
As a result of the fact that some individuals with ties to the Conservative Party or think tanks that support Labour have taken up positions in the civil service, the political neutrality of the government has been called into question. The Conservatives have questioned a number of recruitments, including the most recent one.
After the election, concerns have been raised regarding the appointment of Emily Middleton, a businesswoman whose company gave more than 65,000 pounds to the Labour Party. Middleton was later promoted to the position of director general at the Department of Science and Technology because of her contributions to the party.
Additionally, the government is being criticised for the appointment of a former employee of a Labour think tank to a top position within the Cabinet Office administration.
The government’s Propriety and Constitution Group (PCG) is a department that is responsible for monitoring ethical standards throughout Whitehall. Jess Sargeant, who had previously worked for Labour Together, was recently promoted to the position of deputy director in the division. For the most part, the administration stated that her function would be restricted to reforming the House of Lords.
Lord Alli, who is Sir Keir Starmer’s most significant personal donor, was reportedly granted a security clearance to Downing Street, according to information that surfaced yesterday.
The Times reported that the millionaire television executive in charge of Labour’s electoral fundraising received free access to No. 10. The provision of such a permit to individuals who are not technically engaged in the capacity of a political adviser or a civil servant is quite uncommon.
Pat McFadden, a minister in the Cabinet, stated on Sunday that the donor to the Labour Party “may have had” a pass for Number 10, but that he no longer possessed one. He stated that it is not “unusual for people to have passes to attend political meetings if they need to do so.”
In addition, he stated, “He will not have been involved in any decisions made by the government, as he is not someone who is responsible for policy and administration.”
I don’t believe that he is eligible for a pass any longer, but it is possible that he required one for a brief amount of time during the time immediately following the election. He will not have been involved in the decisions that the government or policymakers make.
Regarding individual appointments and staffing, a representative for the government stated, “We do not comment on these matters.”