Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Nigel Nelson

Govt lobbying loophole which allows secret talks must be closed, Labour says

Labour is demanding Boris Johnson closes a loophole that lets his ministers have secret meetings with lobbyists if they are hosted by foreign diplomats.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner is furious they do not have to declare who they see if they talk inside an embassy or high commission because the London buildings are technically foreign territory.

Ms Rayner said: "it's extraordinary meetings that would be under intense scrutiny if held in ministers' offices can be hidden from public view."

The loophole was uncovered after the Department for International Trade refused to disclose the identifies of attendees at an August 2019 dinner with Liz Truss.

The meal had been organised to discuss "issues relating to the UK-Australia relationship".

The Tories have been slapped with a range of Tory sleaze attacks, with recent reports claiming a Tory donor paid £100k for breakfast with Boris Johnson (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Labour ’s Deputy Leader added: "That would be bad enough in any circumstances, but it is clearly wrong now that the government is negotiating its own trade deals with foreign governments and granting preferential trade terms worth billions of pounds to overseas companies.

“Labour will immediately close this loophole and stamp out Tory sleaze by establishing an ethics and integrity commission that is independent from the Prime Minister and Downing Street.

"All Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals must be publicly disclosed, and there will be no exception for meetings hosted by foreign governments."

Shadow International Trade Secretary Emily Thornberry has written to the Prime Ministers ministerial code advisor Lord Geidt asking him to investigate.

The loophole was first discovered after the Department for International Trade refused to reveal who went to a dinner in August 2019 with Liz Truss (REUTERS)

She wants to know more about trade talks held at the Australian Commission.

Her Tory counterpart Liz Truss won't say what was discussed claiming exemption from rules.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.