Carwyn ‘broke the ministerial code’ over business role
FORMER First Minister Carwyn Jones has been rebuked by a regulator for taking up a business appointment against its advice.
Acoba – the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments – said Mr Jones, who was First Minister for nine years from 2009, broke the ministerial code by becoming a global advisory board member of energy group GFG Alliance.
In a letter to Mr Jones, Lord Pickles, the chair of Acoba, said: “You previously asked for the committee’s advice on joining GFG Alliance as an international adviser, sitting on a worldwide board of advisers.
“Having considered the views of the Welsh Government, you were advised that while you are subject to the Government’s business appointment rules, the risks attached to such a role with GFG Alliance were too high to mitigate with conditions alone, given the degree of insight you had gained into the steel industry during your time as First Minister.
“However, you have confirmed … that you are a member of the GFG Alliance global advisory board.
“The committee recognises the assurances you are employed by Simec [a company within the alliance] rather than by GFG Alliance and you have taken steps to ensure you will be recused from matters related to steel.
“However, the committee considers joining the GFG Alliance global advisory board while you are subject to the Government’s business appointment rules is contrary to its advice. As a consequence you are in breach of the [rules]. The ministerial code states former ministers must abide by the committee’s advice.
“The committee acknowledges you updated your register of interests at the Welsh Parliament in October to show your role with GFG Alliance would be limited to advising on energy matters while you are subject to the business appointment rules; and you subsequently amended it on November 2, to say your role is as an adviser to Simec.
“While the committee recognises the steps you have taken in an attempt to mitigate the risks present, the rules provide for the committee to independently advise on the appropriate restrictions. It is not for a former minister to decide for him or herself how to manage these risks.”
Mr Jones said: “I haven’t done anything wrong here. I followed the advice that this committee gave and was very surprised to receive this letter from Eric Pickles. I would rather that they had just said no in the start.
“The process has no rules, no right to a hearing, no appeal and no complaints process.
“I will leave people to judge whether this is a fair and transparent process.
“Let’s remember that Boris Johnson didn’t even bother to ask for advice in 2018 when he took up a very well-paid job with the Telegraph.”