Donation allegation pressure builds on Jenrick

V CABINET MINISTER Robert Jenrick is facing mounting pressure to release correspondence with the property developer Richard Desmond in order to clear his name amid “cash-forfavours” allegations.

Mr Jenrick, the Housing and Communities Secretary, has been told he must hand over by today all letters relating to his controversial decision to grant planning permission for Mr Desmond — the former president of Jewish charity Norwood — to build 1,500 homes in east London.

Clive Betts, chair of the housing, communities and local government select committee, has written to Mr Jenrick saying a failure to hand over the documentation “could lead to an erosion of trust in the integrity of the planning system and in our wider democratic process”.

The row over the development began when it was revealed Mr Jenrick had approved the Westferry Printworks scheme in January against the recommendation of a planning inspector.

This decision allowed Mr Desmond’s Northern and Shell firm to avoid paying between £30m and £50m in extra tax to Tower Hamlets Council as it came a day before new infrastructure charges came into force.

Two weeks after the decision was made to approve the project, Mr Desmond donated £12,000 to the Conservatives, a move Labour said “raises grave concerns about cash for favours”.

Mr Jenrick admitted “apparent bias” in the case during a High Court challenge brought by Tower Hamlets. It also emerged he had sat next to Mr

Allegations over planning decision: Jenrick (left) and Desmond

Desmond at a Conservative Party fundraising dinner.

On Wednesday it emerged that Mr Jenrick — who is married to an Israeliborn lawyer and who has been vociferous in his support for Jewish community in the UK in his Communities Secretary role — had handed over papers relating to his decision to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesperson stressed that a formal investigation had not been launched.