Michael Gove failed to declare hospitality worth more than £1,700 at three Queens Park Rangers matches over the course of two years, not just the one occasion when he attended with a Conservative donor, it has emerged.
The housing secretary was placed under investigation by the House of Commons standards watchdog last week, after the Guardian reported that he failed to register hospitality he received in August 2021 alongside David Meller, a donor whose firm he had referred to the VIP lane for assessing PPE deals during the Covid pandemic. Meller’s firm, Meller Designs, won six PPE contracts worth £164m.
The commissioner did not give details about the inquiry other than to say it related to Gove’s registration of interests.
However, the cabinet minister said last month that he would notify the authorities about an “oversight” that meant he failed to make the required declaration about hospitality at a football match in 2021.
The latest register of MPs’ interests shows that Gove was also given hospitality at QPR in January 2020 and January 2022, with the tickets provided by the football club itself. The MPs’ code of conduct requires them to register gifts, benefits and hospitality over a value of £300 within 28 days.
Asked whether Gove attended alongside Meller on the two other occasions as well, a spokesperson for Gove said: “Given the inquiry we can’t comment or give any details under the rules.”
Gove’s referral of Meller Designs for a PPE contract was not yet public knowledge when in August 2021 Meller and his son, Jonny, accompanied Gove and his son to Queens Park Rangers’ first match of the football season, a 1-1 draw with Millwall.
During that week, Jonny Meller had contacted one of the QPR owners, Amit Bhatia, saying Gove had asked to be taken to the match. Jonny Meller inquired if they could pay to have seats in Bhatia’s box, saying it could be uncomfortable for Gove if they sat in a general area of the stadium due to public anger at the government’s handling of the pandemic.
Bhatia made his box available, waiving any payment for it, and Gove and David Meller went to the match with their sons and some other guests.
Gove’s spokesperson told the Guardian that his failure to declare the two complimentary tickets he received was an “oversight”.
The spokesperson said: “Mr Gove is grateful to the Guardian for bringing this matter to his attention. He has written to the relevant parliamentary authorities to inform them of a potential omission from the register of members’ financial interests regarding two complimentary tickets he received from Queens Park Rangers Football Club to a match in August 2021.
“Mr Gove routinely declares his attendance at such events in his role as an MP and government minister, as evidenced by other entries in his register of interests and ministerial transparency returns. He apologises for any oversight on his part.”
The senior Tory is one of six MPs, all Conservatives, being investigated by the standards commissioner.
The Mellers have been contacted for comment.
