The row over Jeremy Hunt’s dealings with the Murdoch empire during its takeover bid for BSkyB seems rather a long time ago, even though only a month has passed since it peaked. But even though other rows have eclipsed this one, MPs are debating a very interesting backbench motion in the Commons this afternoon which criticises some of the decisions that the Prime Minister took around the Hunt affair.
The motion is being led by Bernard Jenkin, chair of the Public Administration Select Committee, and runs as follows:
‘That this House calls on the Government to implement the recommendation made by the Public Administration Select Committee in paragraph 44 of its Twenty Second Report of Session 2010-12, The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Minister’s Interests: independent or not?, that the Independent Adviser on Ministers Interests ‘should be empowered to instigate his own investigations’; and notes that this motion has been agreed by the Public Administration Select Committee.’
The problem with the current system is that it is up to the Prime Minister to decide whether to refer a minister to Sir Alex Allan, who is the current adviser on minister’s interests.
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