Scandal-hit cabinet minister Robert Jenrick has refused to turn up in the Commons to answer questions about his go-ahead for a billionaire Tory donor’s property scheme, it has emerged.
Labour attempted to summon the housing secretary to defend the decision – subsequently ruled unlawful – but he sent a junior minister instead.
The no-show, is certain to pile further pressure on Mr Jenrick, after the murky affair remained partly shrouded by the coronavirus crisis – especially after he was spotted on the parliamentary estate.
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In January, he approved Richard Desmond’s plan to build 1,500 homes on the site of a former printworks on east London’s Isle of Dogs – overturning rejections by the local council and independent inspectors.
The decision came just a day before changes to the planning system which would have cost the developer’s company Northern & Shell an extra £30-£50m.
It has now emerged that Mr Desmond donated £12,000 to the Tories on 29 January, having shared a table at a Conservative fundraising dinner last November.
Labour has demanded the housing secretary publish all correspondence related to the planning decision, warning that there must be no “cash for favours”.
Ahead of the urgent question, it also urged Mr Jenrick to:
* Clear up whether he disclosed his earlier conversation Mr Desmond to his department’s top civil servant ahead of the go-ahead – and, if not, whether this breached the ministerial code.


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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, wearing PPE before going into rooms
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Jack Dodsley, 79, speaks to a carer at Newfield Nursing Home
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Carers working at Newfield Nursing Home
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A care worker wearing PPE opens a drink carton
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Jack Dodsley, 79, sits with a carer
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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE
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A care staff member wearing PPE
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A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home looks after a resident
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A carer wearing PPE uses a speaker
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A carer helps Jack Dodsley, 79, from his chair
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A carer wearing PPE helps Jack Dodsley, 79
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A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home
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A carer brings food to a resident at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE
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A staff member puts on PPE at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, puts on PPE before she enters a room
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A bench at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, wearing PPE before going into rooms
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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Jack Dodsley, 79, speaks to a carer at Newfield Nursing Home
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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Carers working at Newfield Nursing Home
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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A care worker wearing PPE opens a drink carton
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Jack Dodsley, 79, sits with a carer
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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A care staff member wearing PPE
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home looks after a resident
SWNS

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A carer wearing PPE uses a speaker
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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A carer helps Jack Dodsley, 79, from his chair
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A carer wearing PPE helps Jack Dodsley, 79
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A staff member at Newfield Nursing Home
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A carer brings food to a resident at Newfield Nursing Home
Tom Maddick/SWNS

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Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE
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A staff member puts on PPE at Newfield Nursing Home
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Jackie Wilson, a healthcare assistant, puts on PPE before she enters a room
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A bench at Newfield Nursing Home
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* Explain why he did not recuse himself from any decision-making in the application process, given his relationship with the developer?
* State what contact he, or his officials, had with the developer or his representatives regarding the £30-50 million saving?
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MPs were told that Christopher Pincher, the junior housing minister, would answer questions in Mr Jenrick’s place – with no explanation given.
Ministers have repeatedly insisted there has been no wrong-doing, without explaining how that squares with his admission that his decision broke the law.
After the council mounted a High Court challenge, he accepted it had been “unlawful by reason of apparent bias” and agreed he would take no further part in decisions about the application.
Later, Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the prime minister has “full confidence” in Robert Jenrick, but declined to say why he had declined to face questions in the Commons.
Mr Jenrick’s department has declined to answer questions about Mr Desmond’s donation, referring queries to the Conservative party, and Northern & Shell did not respond to requests for a comment.
A Tory party spokesperson said: “Government policy is in no way influenced by party donations – they are entirely separate.
“Donations to the Conservative party are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission, published by them, and comply fully with the law.”