Theresa May has called for Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth secretary general, to answer allegations that she spent large sums to refurbish a grace and favour home, saying the Labour peer would be judged on how she reformed her institution.
Speaking to reporters on a visit to India, the prime minister was asked about several days of reports connected to Scotland, who served as attorney general under Gordon Brown.
The reports, based on documents allegedly leaked from the Commonwealth Secretariat, claim Scotland sought expensive renovations to the Mayfair flat, including more than £10,000 on wallpaper. Scotland denies any “extravagant” expenditure.
Another report asked why Scotland’s contract seemingly had a clause allowing the payment of education fees, when her children are grown up.
At the weekend Scotland said the work had been agreed under the tenure of her predecessor, Indian diplomat Kamalesh Sharma, and that she planned to push through “transformative change” at the Commonwealth secretariat.
Speaking in New Delhi, May said: “Obviously the UK is a strong supporter of the Commonwealth – we believe as an organisation it has a role to play in dealing with shared challenges around the world such as human rights.
“We believe it does need to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. That means there does need to be reform of the secretariat. For Baroness Scotland, of course she needs to respond to the allegations that have been made. She will be judged on how she delivers on that need for reform for the Commonwealth secretariat to be operating effectively and efficiently.”
Scotland’s office has blamed “a profoundly disaffected individual” for leaking “false, misleading and distorted allegations”.
A spokesman said of May’s comments: “We are grateful for the prime minister’s support of the secretary general and appreciate her backing for the reforms secretary general Scotland is undertaking on behalf of the Commonwealth and its more than 2 billion citizens.”
