Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
There remains an unresolved issue about why the Cabinet Secretary believed Mr Sharp had been...
Recommendation
There remains an unresolved issue about why the Cabinet Secretary believed Mr Sharp had been giving financial advice to the then Prime Minister, which Mr Sharp insists that he had not done. The Cabinet Office should clear up the confusion relating to the advice given to the Prime Minister immediately.
Government Response Summary
The government points to the Heppinstall KC report, commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary, which sets out the details of the advice given to the former Prime Minister. The government suggests this resolves the issue.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Committee asked the Government to clear up the confusion surrounding advice given to Mr Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister, in relation to Mr Sharp. The report by Mr Heppinstall KC sets out the details of the interactions between the Cabinet Secretary and Mr Sharp, and notes at paragraph 59 that this advice was commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary – to come from the Propriety and Ethics team (PET) – on 22 December 2020 and given to the then Prime Minister on the same day. The report makes clear that the advice was neither “commissioned nor obtained until after the appointment process was almost over.” Mr Heppinstall KC also notes at paragraph 59 that the reason for this advice was not to avoid any conflict of interest in the appointment process, but instead to prevent the former Prime Minister discussing private financial matters once Mr Sharp was appointed to Chair the BBC Board.