Minister ducks ‘cash for favours’ quiz over donor

HOUSING Secretary Robert Jenrick dodged MPs’ questions yesterday over his unlawful approval of a £1billion planning application by a Tory donor.

The Cabinet minister is embroiled in a ‘cash for favours’ row over the Daily Mail’s revelation that billionaire property developer Richard Desmond gave £12,000 to the Tories a fortnight after Mr Jenrick gave his scheme the go-ahead.

Mr Jenrick yesterday failed to turn up in the Commons and instead sent junior housing minister Chris Pincher to respond to an urgent question.

Mr Pincher insisted the Housing Secretary had acted properly and with propriety over the 1,500-home project.

But Labour shadow housing secretary Steve Reed warned it raises ‘grave concerns about cash for favours’. He added: ‘The public needs reassurance the integrity of the planning process cannot be auctioned off at Conservative Party fundraising dinners.’

On January 14 Mr Jenrick overruled a local council and Government planning inspectors to approve plans to redevelop as housing an ex-printworks in East London. It came a day before the council approved a levy on developments that would have cost Mr Desmond’s firm up to £50million. Mr Desmond gave £12,000 to the Tories on January 28. Mr Jenrick later accepted his decision to approve the plans was ‘unlawful by reason of apparent bias’.

Yesterday, Mr Pincher said Mr Jenrick ‘has no relationship with’ Mr Desmond even though they sat on the same table at a Tory fundraising dinner in November. He said Mr Jenrick had not known about the donation.

Boris Johnson’s spokesman insisted he had full confidence in Mr Jenrick and said his decision to send a junior minister in his place to answer Commons questions was ‘appropriate’.

Lib Dem acting leader Sir Ed Davey asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill last night to find out if the ministerial code had been breached. John Biggs, mayor of Tower Hamlets in East London, called for a government inquiry.

‘Raises grave concerns’