Hunt in sleaze probe over luxury flats deal

Labour reports him to MPS’ watchdog

JEREMY Hunt could face a sleaze probe over claims of “illegal activity” in a luxury flats investment.

The Health Secretary allegedly failed to declare his involvement in a scheme involving seven flats in Southampton.

He apologised after it emerged he had broken anti-money laundering legislation brought in by his own Government – although the Cabinet Office said he had not breached the Ministerial Code.

But Shadow Cabinet Office Secretary Jon Trickett said yesterday Labour will him to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

He said: “It appears Jeremy Hunt has taken part in illegal activity in his failure to declare his involvement in a luxury flat investment. This is simply unacceptable.”

Mr Hunt, said to be worth £14million, jointly set up Mare

Pond Properties with wife Lucia Guo on September 19 last year, to run seven flats in the city’s Ocean Village. But he failed to declare he was a “person with significant control” – having more than 25% shares or voting rights – to Companies House until March 29. Since 2016, failing to do this within 14 days can lead to a fine or two years’ jail. Mr Hunt also did not declare his stake to Parliareport ment until March 7, breaching a 28-day limit in the MPS’ Code of Conduct.

He corrected the errors but Sir Alistair Graham, former chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said letting him off could show “one rule for the political elite and another for the rest”.

A spokeswoman for Mr Hunt said: “These were honest administrative mistakes which have been rectified.

“Jeremy accepts these mistakes are his responsibility and has apologised to the parliamentary authorities.”

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We consider the matter closed.”

APOLOGY