Tory MP accused of asking for client's help with parliamentary questions

Telegraph

10 hours ago

A former Tory minister allegedly asked for help in writing parliamentary questions from a company that paid him £60,000 a year.
George Freeman canvassed the director of GHGSat, a green technology firm, on 'what to ask' Labour ministers about, according to leaked emails.
On Saturday night, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, was facing pressure to strip the whip from the Conservative MP, who has referred himself to the Commons watchdog.
Mr Freeman, who served as a science minister under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, said: 'I don't believe I have done anything wrong.'
The Times obtained emails that were sent between him and a director at the firm, which hired him as a paid adviser last year. In the exchanges, the MP reportedly raised 'what to ask about' when he submitted written questions related to the sector in which the firm works.
In one, he asked whether the business could help him 'get the wording right', which he could 'convert into parliamentary language'. The Times reported that some of the written questions he then submitted used the same phrases that had been suggested by the company.
Commissioner to investigate
Mr Freeman started working for the firm, which uses satellites and aircraft to help businesses monitor their emissions, last April.
But a spokesman for GHGSat confirmed that he no longer worked for it, telling The Times: 'GHGSat retained George Freeman MP for a brief period to help GHGSat understand and navigate the geopolitical environment in the UK and Europe.
'GHGSat signed a services agreement with Mr Freeman that did not include any lobbying activities and was concluded on the basis of the terms laid out by the advisory committee on business appointments. GHGSat takes all applicable laws and regulations concerning lobbying extremely seriously.'
As well as his role as a constituency MP, Mr Freeman also sits on the Commons committee on Science, Innovation and Technology. He has referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who will investigate whether there was a breach of the rules.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats called on Mrs Badenoch to remove the Tory whip from him whilst the investigation was carried out. A Labour spokesman said: 'George Freeman has referred himself for investigation, so now Kemi Badenoch must suspend him from the Tory whip.'
Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy leader, said: 'This looks like the same old sleaze and scandal people have come to expect from the Conservative Party.
'Kemi Badenoch should immediately suspend the whip from George Freeman while this is investigated. Failure to act would confirm that, even after being booted out of government, the Conservatives are still hopelessly out of touch.'
A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'George Freeman MP has referred himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. It would be inappropriate for the Conservative Party to comment further whilst the Commissioner's inquiries are ongoing.'
'Very concerned' over leaking of emails
Mr Freeman was elected to his Mid Norfolk constituency in 2010. Were he found to have broken the rules, he could ultimately be suspended from Parliament. If an independent panel handed down a suspension of more than 10 days, that would trigger a recall petition for a by-election in the seat.
In a statement, Mr Freeman said he was 'very concerned' at the leaking of his private emails, which he had referred to the police.
He said: 'As a long-standing advocate of important new technologies, companies and industries, working cross-party through APPGs and the select committee, I regularly ask experts for clarification on technical points and terminology, and deeply respect and try to assiduously follow the code of conduct for MPs and the need to act always in the public interest.
'Throughout my 15 years in Parliament and government, I have always understood the need to be transparent in the work I have done for and with commercial clients and charities and am always willing to answer any criticism.
'I don't believe I have done anything wrong, but I am immediately referring myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and will accept his judgement in due course. I am very concerned at the unauthorised and targeted access to my emails and diary, which I have raised with the police and Parliamentary authorities.'
The revelations will reignite the debate around MPs' second jobs and whether they leave them open to potential conflicts of interest.