How housing secretary Robert Jenrick became embroiled in 'highly contentious' property scheme by billionaire Richard Desmond

Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick is under growing pressure over a controversial decision to approve a major property scheme involving a billionaire Conservative Party donor.

Labour has raised concerns about an “apparent cash-for-favours” scandal – but the housing secretary has insisted “rules were followed” when he gave the green light to an east London apartment complex involving former Express newspapers’ owner Richard Desmond.

So what is the row all about? And what questions remain about contact between Mr Jenrick and Mr Desmond?

What planning decision did Robert Jenrick take?

Mr Jenrick approved the Westferry Printworks scheme in east London (said to be worth £1bn) in January 2020. The minister overruled objections by Tower Hamlets Council over the lack of affordable housing and overall size of the 1,500-home development by Richard Desmond’s company Northern & Shell.

Following a public inquiry August 2019 – launched after the developer argued the process was taking too long – a government-appointed planning inspector recommended the development be turned down, agreeing with the council.

Only two weeks after Mr Jenrick stepped in to give the scheme the go-ahead, Electoral Commission records show that Mr Desmond personally gave £12,000 to the Conservatives.

Why was Robert Jenrick’s decision found ‘unlawful’?

In May 2020 Mr Jenrick said he accepted his decision had been “‘unlawful by reason of apparent bias” after Tower Hamlets Council launched legal proceedings in the High Court two months earlier.

In a statement, the local authority said the “timing of the [Mr Jenrick’s] decision appeared to show bias” – since it was made only one day before new infrastructure charges came into force. The charges would have meant the developer paying between £30m and £50m extra to the council.

Following an agreement between the secretary of state, the developer, the Greater London Authority and Tower Hamlets Council, the courts agreed to a consent order quashing the planning approval.

What contacts did Robert Jenrick have with Richard Desmond?

Mr Jenrick has admitted he attended a Conservative Party fundraising dinner in November 2019 also attended by Mr Desmond – and claimed he “inadvertently” sat next to him.

The minister also admitted the property scheme was raised at the event, but claimed he had told Mr Desmond – worth around £2.6bn according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List – he could not discuss the matter.

Labour MP Ruth Cadbury claimed a whistleblower in Mr Jenrick’s department had said there is “no record” of the Tory fundraising dinner in official documents, adding: “This is potentially a serious breach of the ministerial code, especially as the secretary of state himself has just admitted that it is a highly contentious application.”

But Mr Jenrick said that Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officials did know he was attending the event. “I didn’t know who I was going to be seated by until I sat at the table, and I discussed and took advice from my officials within the department at all times.”

What investigations have taken place into the decision?

Mr Jenrick told the Commons a Labour member of the House of Lords made an allegation to the police about the matter. However, Scotland Yard said there were no criminal matters to investigate and they had no intention of taking it further.

Mr Jenrick also told the House he had passed all relevant information relating to the row to the cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill, and is taking advice on what documents can be published.

Speaking in the Commons on Monday, the minister said he had taken the decision on the highly contentious” planning application “in good faith”, adding that he was “confident that all the rules were followed in doing so”.

Who is calling for further investigation?

Labour has called on the Cabinet Office to publish the findings of any inquiries made by the cabinet secretary into Mr Jenrick’s unlawful decision. The opposition party still wants the minister to disclose “all conversations with all government ministers and officials” – and has demanded a full civil service investigation.

Labour MP Steve Reed, shadow housing secretary, said Mr Jenrick’s Commons’ appearance had “raised more questions than it answered and done nothing to ease concerns over apparent cash-for-favours in the planning process”.

Elizabeth David-Barrett, a professor of governance and integrity who is also the director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption at the University of Sussex, said: “In most previous governments, Robert Jenrick would have resigned well before now.”

She added: “If there is no subsequent investigation into alleged misconduct, then the message that sends is that ministers can do whatever they like and just reverse the decision if their actions are questioned.”

The Westferry scheme: A timeline

August 2019 – Planning inspector rejects approval for Westferry Printworks development.

November 2019 – Robert Jenrick meets Richard Desmond at Tory fundraising dinner.

14 January 2020 – Jenrick approves Westferry Printworks development.

28 January 2020 – Desmond personally gives £12,000 to the Conservatives.

March 2020 – Tower Hamlets Council raises legal action against Jenrick’s decision.

May 2020 – Jenrick accepts decision ‘unlawful’ and approval quashed.

Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk