As one Defra agency appears to be finally learning the painful lessons of IT rollouts gone wrong, another seems to have walked into the same trap. Spelman under scrutiny over links to biotech lobbyists
NEW Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman has come under scrutiny after a campaign group calling for transparency in politics raised awkard questions about a potential conflict of interest.
The Sunlight Centre wrote to Dame Helen Ghosh, permanent secretary for Defra, on Friday (May 14) questioning Mrs Spelman’s previous role as co-owner of food and biotechnology lobbying group Spelman, Cormack & Associates.
Mrs Spelman resigned her directorship of the firm in May last year and is not in breach of Parliamentary rules, but the Sunlight Centre said the matter required further investigation.
Her husband Mark remains a director of the firm and it still continues to trade under her maiden name, Cormack.
The group also raised concerns over her previous role as sugar beet commodity secretary for the NFU and called for assurances this would not affect her role negotiating sugar policy in the EU.
The Sunlight Centre said: “The Secretary of State is in charge of negotiating subsidies, quotas and tariff barriers at the EU Agricultural Council, giving rise to a clear conflict of interest between this official role and her close links to a company which has in the past lobbied or may be intending to lobby over such matters.
“The Secretary of State is also responsible for Genetically Modified food regulations at the same time as her husband’s firm deals with bio-tech industry clients.
“Ms. Spelman therefore remains linked to a farming and food lobbying firm that she set up, held shares in for ten years, and for which her husband is still using her name and home address for commercially.”
By no longer being a director of the company, Mrs Spelman is not breaking any rules, but the issue will be an uncomfortable one for new Prime Minister David Cameron who has previously described secret corporate lobbying in Government as ‘the next big scandal waiting to happen’.
During his election campaign Mr Cameron promised tougher controls on MPs and their roles outside of Parliament, proposing a two-year ban on lobbying for former Ministers, while also banning his cabinet from holding second jobs.
In its letter to Defra, The Sunlight Centre has asked for three key questions to be answered on Mrs Spelman’s role in Government:
- Will the Secretary of State step back from dealing with matters which impact on her former clients in the agri-business and bio-tech industy?
- Has the Secretary of State fully declared all the agri-business companies with which her “family business” had dealings, because these do not seem to be a matter of public record?
- Will she recuse herself specifically from any negotiations with a bearing on the sugar beet industry given her close past relationship to those with a commercial interest in these negotiations?
Readers' comments (5)
Ron | 16 May 2010 7:52 pm
Finally a Farming pro and this is a conflict of interest. HOW? What are they suggesting? That we appoint someone with no skills and/or experience just in case they have an opinion that the Sunlight Centre does not like.
As for this Sugar Beet business. How do they expect anyone to to have the skills and knowledge to engage in negotiations, if they have not had extensive exposure to the arena in the first place.
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Tom Rigby | 17 May 2010 10:12 am
I think her appointment is David Cameron's first error of judgment; no disrespect to her integrity but having a family business that has been lobbying her own department in the recent past (and probably will do so in future) on behalf of clients hoping to profit from decisions on sensitive issues it does not sit well with the new politics we had been promised.
It seems inevitable her time in the post will be brief and so unable to provide the stability that farming really needs.
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James Grant | 18 May 2010 5:43 pm
I suggest that Caroline Spelman is a highly suitable and qualified choice as the new Secretary of DEFRA.. It is really good to have someone with some hands on experience.
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Nick Weber | 18 May 2010 6:37 pm
I agree with Ron and James, it is great to have someone with experience and know-how. People are never happy I believe that she will be good for Defra and more importantly farming in general.
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James | 6 June 2010 6:45 pm
With proper control of resources there is no need for GM crops. GM only generates profits for large multi-national corporations like Monsanto who have gotten rich off patenting life. I emphasise profit above benefit to humanity.
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