Lord Adonis has warned of the worst “sleaze and possible abuse of office” he has witnessed in his career, following housing secretary Robert Jenrick’s approval of Richard Desmond’s Westferry Printworks.
The Labour peer has tabled parliamentary questions asking the ministry of housing, communities and local government to explain if its permanent secretary at the time, Dame Melanie Dawes, had any knowledge of the interaction and if she took action.
His actions follow Jenrick’s admission of “apparent bias” in his approval of Desmond’s £1bn development on the Isle of Dogs, E14, after meeting him at a Conservative Party fundraiser.
The former Labour transport secretary has also called for details of all contact between senior officials and special advisers in the department and Desmond’s company Northern & Shell.
In the meantime, the Metropolitan Police will assess Jenrick’s decision on the 1,524-home, 46-storey tower. It has been referred to its special enquiry team, which handles allegations relating to offences committed by individuals in public office.
Adonis has urged the police to carry out a full investigation, alongside calls for more scrutiny on civil service involvement ahead of the planning consent.
He contacted Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick last week, asking her to investigate a potential abuse of office and corruption. He received confirmation on Friday (29 May) that this had been referred to a senior commander.
“The police should now launch a full investigation to judge whether they think there is a criminal case to answer in respect of corruption and abuse of public office,” said Adonis.
Last week, Adonis called on cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill to explain whether Jenrick had broken ministerial conduct and the law.
“It is a requirement of ministers that they advise their civil servants and, in particular, the permanent secretary of any contact with individuals that might in any way affect their judgement in the making of major decisions,” said Adonis.
He said failure to do this would have been “a very significant error on his part, but an error loaded with improper practice”.
Adonis added if the MHCLG had known and not advised Jenrick to recuse himself, members are “in dereliction of their duty”, which would be a “very serious failing on the part of the civil service”.
He said he was “astonished” that Jenrick had not recused himself from considering the application following his engagement with Desmond, and that the application was not passed to another minister.
Adonis said: “The fact that didn’t happen is a significant failing of the system which, in the case of a planning application worth £1bn and the issue of a decision letter a day before the CIL regulations which affects the obligation of Mr Desmond to pay about £40m, is of huge significance.”
He added: “I am equally astonished that the civil service didn’t require him to do so. That is why it is so important to know what the civil servants know.
“Potentially, we are looking at a very serious abuse of due process here.”
Shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury has also called for a cabinet office investigation into Jenrick’s actions. In a letter to cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill on 28 May, he requested details of all contact between Jenrick and Northern & Shell and also asked what conversations, if any, that the prime minister may have had with Jenrick regarding the application.
See Mike Amesbury’s letter to Sir Mark Sedwill
A MHCLG spokesman said: “While we reject the suggestion that there was any actual bias in the decision, we have agreed that the application will be redetermined.”
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