Norfolk MP says potential breach of ministerial code is 'genuine misunderstanding'
He is being investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog
A Norfolk MP says a potential breach of ministerial code was a 'genuine misunderstanding'.
George Freeman, who represents Mid Norfolk, was accused of breaching the code in November of last year, when he declared he'd been paid £5,000 for working with PPE firm Aerosol Shield.
The anti-corruption body claims he failed to follow the code by not asking for advice before doing the work.
Under rules designed to prevent corruption, former government ministers must seek guidance from the UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) before taking on paid work within two years of leaving office.
Mr Freeman, who served as a transport minister until February 2020, has previously said he was told by the watchdog he did not need approval for the work, so long as it was not "long-term commercial work" and was unrelated to his previous ministerial role.
In letters published by the government, chairman of the ACOBA, Lord Eric Pickles stated it does not say in the rules or other guidance that MPs only need to seek advice if it is related to a former ministerial role. He also said the body is now investigating further breaches of the code.
In a statement issued this week, Mr Freeman said:
"I've written today to Lord Pickles to explain that this was a genuine misunderstanding about the ACOBA process - and that I had no idea that I needed to get ACOBA clearance for the various local regeneration projects like The Norfolk Way and Norfolk Enterprise Festival and rural regeneration projects which I've started to help post-Covid recovery."