• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Tory donor ‘showed Jenrick promo of controversial development’

The housing secretary watched the video for “three or four minutes” at a Conservative Party fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2020-06-21 20:05
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

A Tory donor has said he showed Robert Jenrick a promotional video of a development before the Housing Secretary controversially approved the planning application.

Media mogul Richard Desmond told the Sunday Times that Mr Jenrick watched the video for “three or four minutes” at a Conservative Party fundraiser at the Savoy Hotel.

Mr Jenrick would later grant permission for the development of a 1,500-flat scheme the day before a new council community levy would have cost Mr Desmond’s company an extra £40 million.

The Cabinet member has said he did not discuss the development at the Westferry Printworks in east London with Mr Desmond and has told MPs he acted in “good faith” and “within the rules”.

Video

Mr Desmond, who used to own the Express and Star newspapers, told the Sunday Times: “What I did was I showed him the video,” adding that the minister viewed it for about “three or four minutes” at the November fundraiser.

According to Mr Desmond, Mr Jenrick replied: “I’m sorry Richard. I can’t discuss it.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock backed his Cabinet colleague on Sunday.

“Mr Jenrick answered questions for an hour in the House of Commons this week and I think he’s put out a statement about this which is perfectly reasonable,” Mr Hancock told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC.

“He was put on a table with Mr Desmond, he didn’t know that was where he was sitting before, so I think his explanation is entirely reasonable.”

RelatedPosts

Tories ‘acting in interests’ of wealthiest as living costs soar – Corbyn

Poll finds just 1% of 18-24 year-olds support Tories

Rutherglen by-election of ‘monumental significance’, says Starmer

Nandy rips Braverman’s multiculturalism claims to shreds on Question Time

£1 billion redevelopment

Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill has been tasked with carrying out a review into the handling of the development.

The redevelopment, said to be worth £1 billion, was approved in January by Mr Jenrick against the recommendation of a planning inspector.

The decision was reversed after legal action by Tower Hamlets Council and Mr Jenrick admitted what he did was “unlawful by reason of apparent bias”.

Two weeks after the minister stepped in to approve the scheme, Electoral Commission records show that Mr Desmond personally gave £12,000 to the Conservatives.

Related: Government ‘asleep at the wheel’ over plans to reopen schools, says Labour

Tags: headline
Previous Post

Drinkers may have to leave their names at door before entering pubs

Next Post

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Monday 22 June 2020

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

More from TLE

Navigating the Transition to Online Casinos in the UK

BBC coverage nowhere to be seen as European news channels broadcast re-join march

Shapps squirms after grilling from Kuenssberg-replacement, Victoria Derbyshire

Rishi Sunak now flying around in luxury jet used by treble winners Man City

Boy, 16, who wore bright red skirt and sequinned tuxedo jacket to prom goes viral

Russell Brand pleads with fans to support him financially after YouTube cuts revenue

Lib Dems no longer interested in taxing the rich

Lib Dems say severance payouts to rule-breaking ministers should be scrapped

Inflation drops sharply in Europe

Laurence Fox apologises to Ava Evans for ‘demeaning’ her

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




← Drinkers may have to leave their names at door before entering pubs ← Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for London, Monday 22 June 2020
-->