Hancock firm won contracts from the NHS
New ‘cronies’ row hits No10
MATT Hancock was dragged into a new cronyism row yesterday.
The Health Secretary declared a 15% share in Topwood Ltd in the register of members’ interests, which was awarded a £150,000 contract for destruction of confidential waste from NHS Wales last month.
His disclosure did not mention that his sister Emily Gilruth is listed as a director of the Wrexham-based firm.
While he is not responsible for the Welsh NHS, Topwood was named as a potential supplier for NHS trusts in England in 2019, the year after Mr Hancock became Health Secretary.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth demanded answers from Cabinet Secretary Simon Case on whether Mr Hancock had broken the ministerial code. In a letter to the civil service chief, he said: “It is clear that there is a wider pattern of behaviour here.
“Many serious questions remain unanswered, and no stone must be left unturned in tackling the culture of cronyism and sleaze that surrounds this Government.”
Mr Hancock is thought to have no active role in running Topwood and neither he nor his department were involved in the award of contracts.
A source said he discussed the gift of shares with the Permanent Secretary before accepting them.
A Government spokesperson said he had acted within the rules.
Downing Street said Boris Johnson had full confidence in Mr Hancock.
It comes as Whitehall’s spending watchdog announced the seventh inquiry into the fallout from the lobbying scandal linked to collapsed firm Greensill Capital. The National Audit Office will focus on Greensill’s involvement with Covid support.
Questions are mounting about alleged links between officials, ministers and businesses triggered by David Cameron’s lobbying activities on behalf of the firm, where he was a paid adviser after leaving No10. Topwood Ltd declined to comment.
THE smell of Conservative sleaze and cronyism is now an overpowering stench after the revelation that the Health Secretary owns shares in a company approved to bid for NHS contracts.
Matt Hancock failed to declare his interest in the firm, Topwood, to Parliamentary authorities for more than two months and hadn’t previously declared his family’s involvement. He has serious questions to answer. Hancock is also embroiled in the lobbying scandal involving David Cameron and banker Lex Greensill. That’s not all though.
The former landlord of Mr Hancock’s local pub was awarded a Covid contract, so the minister has even more explaining to do.
His boss Boris Johnson is a prime minister without morals, a cynical liar whose personal and public actions raise concerns about probity at the highest levels of government.
The Government should govern in the national interest, not for their own gain.