In a sting operation set up by campaign group led By Donkeys, Hancock and Kwarteng both set out six-figure sums for what they would expect to be paid to advise a non-existent firm in South Korea…reports Asian Lite News
Former cabinet ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng told a fake overseas company looking for MP advisers their daily rate for consultancy would be £10,000.
In a sting operation set up by campaign group Led By Donkeys, Hancock and Kwarteng both set out six-figure sums for what they would expect to be paid to advise a non-existent firm in South Korea.
There is no accusation of wrongdoing, with MPs permitted to seek employment outside of Parliament. Hancock, asked whether he had a daily rate during an online “interview”, said: “I do, yes. It is 10,000 sterling.”
Led By Donkeys tonight tweeted a seven-minute video titled “MPs FOR HIRE: a Led By Donkeys undercover investigation”.
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A spokesperson from Led By Donkeys said: “This experiment was designed to test if MPs would be willing to work for a fake foreign company during the cost-of-living crisis. We wanted to know if they’d agree to take time away from their actual jobs representing their constituents, including travel to South Korea, and how much money they’d want to be paid. We’ll be releasing the results over the next few days.”
Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee, also attended an online meeting for the fake company. He made clear he could not advocate on behalf of the interest but may be able to help the company on who to approach in government.
He said a rate of £6,000 “feels about right” and payments would be on the public register. And former minister Stephen Hammond was also approached. He told the Observer he considered he had been a victim of a “scam” and that he thought he was engaged in a preliminary discussion with a firm, but “it turns out this company was fake, with a fake website”.
The MPs have all complied with the relevant rules and referred to their obligations to their constituents during the meetings.
They are not prohibited from these meetings and no arrangements were finalised. However, it comes at a time when politicians’ earnings outside of their role in government are being scrutinised.
Led By Donkeys set up a fake firm Hanseong Consulting and approached 20 MPs about becoming from the Conservative party, Labour and Liberal Democrats after examining the outside earnings of MPs on the parliamentary register of interests.
The company never existed and had a basic website with bogus testimonials.
They sent an email to the MPs saying they were looking for individuals for an international advisory board to “help our clients navigate the shifting political, regulatory and legislative frameworks” in the UK and Europe.
The advisers would be required to attend six board meetings a year. Five MPs agreed to be interviewed on Zoom, but one backed out at the beginning.
The four who went forward with the interview spoke to a woman pretending to be a senior executive in Seoul, South Korea.
Investigative reporter Antony Barnet conducted the experiment with Led By Donkeys to find out if MPs would be willing to work away from their constituents during the cost of living crisis.
The campaign group has said more footage of the interviews will be coming out in the next few days.
A spokesperson for Hancock told Led By Donkeys: “This failed attempt at entrapment in fact shows that Matt acted within the letter and the spirit of the rules, making it crystal clear from the outset that his parliamentary and constituency duties are his primary responsibility now.
“Matt is leaving Parliament at the next election so it is entirely to be expected that he should have exploratory conversations in the meantime.”
Brady said, “Having decided to leave the Commons at the next election, I have received a number of approaches regarding future opportunities. I did have an exploratory discussion with someone purporting to be recruiting an international advisory board for a South Korean investment house. I made it clear any arrangement would have to be completely transparent and that, whilst a member of parliament, I would only act within the terms of the code of conduct. I also made it clear that while I could be flexible in attending international meetings in person, this would be subject to some important votes or commitments in Westminster.”
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