Forcing an anti-corruption watchdog to rule on an ex-UK minister “consuming the more intimate parts of some luckless marsupial” on television is not a good use of public money, its chief has said.
Lord Pickles, chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), made reference to the appearance of Matt Hancock on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – where the former UK health secretary dined on kangaroo penis, as he argued reform of the current vetting regime would “bring a sense to the system”.
Repeating his warning that the existing rules on post-government jobs were “not fit for purpose”, he said planned changes would allow his body to focus on more complicated cases that safeguarded the interest and integrity of the British government.
But the Tory peer stressed the need “to get on with it”, as he welcomed measures to impose fines for those found in breach of the rules arguing there needed to be consequences.
Under a new ethics regime announced last year by the UK government, former ministers who flout the rules on post-government jobs could be hit by financial sanctions.
A “ministerial deed” will be designed to legally commit frontbenchers to the rules on accepting jobs after they leave office, binding them by the same restrictions as civil servants.
While Acoba, which scrutinises post-ministerial jobs, found Mr Hancock broke UK government rules by not consulting the body before appearing on reality TV shows, I’m A Celebrity and Channel 4’s SAS Who Dares Wins, it said any disciplinary action would be “disproportionate”.
Speaking during a debate at Westminster on parliamentary democracy and standards in public life, Lord Pickles argued the regime aimed at preventing a revolving door of former ministers being rewarded with plum jobs in the private sector, needed to be urgently updated.
He said: “The rules are not fit for purpose. They have not kept up with modern career patterns and leave open major risks to the integrity of government.
“This failure has been apparent for years and I welcome the commitment of the Government to reform the system announced last year. Now is the time to get on with it.”
He added: “The revised business rules need not just the confidence of the Prime Minister and peers, but more importantly they must have the credibility in the eyes of the public.
“To get over the threshold of credibility, to be listened to by the public, there needs to be consequences for breaking the rules. Currently there are none, save an unpleasant letter from myself and couple of days of bad publicity in the press.”
Highlighting the importance of strengthened rules for outgoing members of the UK government, including the threat of a fine, Lord Pickles said: “Ministers must set an example and lead from the front.
“They can’t expect others to follow the rules unless they are prepared to do it themselves first.”
He went on: “Reform will bring a sense to the system.
“It is not a good use of public money, as we are currently forced to do, to consider the merits of an ex-minister consuming the more intimate parts of some luckless marsupial on television. There is no Government interest here to protect.
“Far better that there should be a light touch on journalism, entertainment, voluntary work or transfers to other parts of the public service.
“Far better that those coming from the private sector should have a clear idea of the restrictions they will face on leaving the civil service.
“Far better for Acoba to concentrate on more complicated cases that protect the interest and the probity of Government.”
Responding to the debate, Lords leader Lord True said British government reforms “will mark the introduction of stricter enforcement of the business appointment rules with a clearer pathway towards sanctions, potentially including financial sanctions for beaches”.
He told peers: “That is very much actively under way at the moment.”
