Michael Dugher writes to David Cameron urging him to publish the Cabinet Secretary’s response on Theresa Villiers
Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office has today written to David Cameron, urging him to publish the Cabinet Secretary’s response to Anne Main’s letter on Theresa Villier’s alleged breach of the Civil Service Code.
The letter follows David Cameron admitting at Prime Minister’s Questions that he had seen a copy of the Cabinet Secretary’s response.
The full text of the letter is below:
The Prime Minister
10 Downing St
London
SW1A 2AA
18 December 2013
Dear Prime Minister,
More than four months ago the Cabinet Secretary received a letter from the Member of Parliament for St Albans alleging that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland had breached the Ministerial Code. To date no response has been received.
In the House of Commons today you said:
“I’ve seen a copy of the Cabinet Secretary’s response and I’m confident it will be sent in the next few days.”
I urge you to publish the Cabinet Secretary’s letter immediately to allow Parliament the chance to scrutinise its contents.
If the letter is not published today to allow Parliament the opportunity to examine both the allegations and the Cabinet Secretary’s response in full the only conclusion to be drawn is that your intention is to deny proper public scrutiny over this extremely serious matter. As you yourself once said, "sunlight is the best disinfectant”.
In view of the fact that one of the individuals named as seeking to influence the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is a member of your local Conservative Association and Councillor in your Constituency, full transparency is more important.
It would be unacceptable if such an important matter as the integrity of Ministerial behaviour was met with political manoeuvrings.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Dugher
Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office