Russian media tycoon is ‘vocal critic of Putin’ insists minister
MINISTERS stressed yesterday that Russian-born media tycoon Lord Lebedev is a ‘man of good standing’ and no complaint has been made about his conduct.
In a statement to Parliament, Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis pointed out that the crossbench peer has ‘been vocal in his criticism of the Putin regime’.
The House of Commons approved a Labour motion earlier this year seeking to force the Government to release documents about the Prime Minister’s involvement in Lord Lebedev’s appointment to the Lords. But yesterday ministers said they were withholding the advice in order to ‘protect national security’.
It followed questions as to whether the Prime Minister asked anyone in the security services to reconsider or withdraw their assessment of Lord Lebedev – who is the owner of the London Evening Standard and a shareholder in The Independent – ahead of his appointment in November 2020.
His father, the oligarch Alexander Lebedev, was a former agentfor the KGB, the Russian security service, until 1991.
Mr Ellis said yesterday the Government was ‘committed to openness and transparency’ but said it had to take into account security concerns, as well as the need to maintain the ‘integrity’ of the honours system.
It also had ‘a responsibility to consider whether it is in the public interest to place information into the public domain’.
He added that the Government would be sending information relating to ‘any national security matters arising’ to Parliament’s intelligence and security committee, which normally sits in private.
‘This sharing of information illustrates the Government is acting in good faith,’ he said, and added: ‘Lord Lebedev is a man of good standing. No complaint has been made about his personal conduct.’