A single Government decision to create a protective ring around Owen Paterson’s neck has had a ‘butterfly’ effect, resulting in painful defeats both in polls and in Commons for Boris Johnson. Leadership contenders are now sharpening knives.
Some fellow Tories have had to reconsider their interests outside of politics because of the convulsions. Ruth Edwards quietly resigned from her position as advisor.
The MP for Rushcliffe was being paid £5,000 a month, via the company she co-owns with her husband, by HR firm MHR International.
Similarly, Sir Greg Knight has given up his £16,000 annual pay cheque from Cambridge and Counties Bank.
Newbie Dean Russell, (above), is an ex-PR man who was elected to Watford in 2019. Russell has a register of interest that lists his regular monthly pay checks from EPIFNY Consulting Ltd., which Russell calls a business education provider’. Russell, who was elected to the House of Representatives, transferred his shares directly to his wife. She is now the sole owner. He doesn’t say he is still a director of company. This appears to violate the Code of Conduct for MPs.
Steve Brine, the former Health Minister, is now no longer an adviser strategic to pharmaceutical companies.
Not everyone received the memo. Dean Russell is a newbie in the PR world who was elected to Watford’s service in 2019.
Russell’s register of interest lists regular payments from EPIFNY Consulting Ltd, which Russell describes as a “business education provider”.
Russell, who was elected to the House of Representatives, transferred his shares and now owns the company.
Ruth Edwards quietly resigned from her position as an advisor. The MP for Rushcliffe was being paid £5,000 a month, via the company she co-owns with her husband, by HR firm MHR International
In contrast, Steve Brine (ex-Health Minister) is no longer an’strategic advisor’ for a pharmaceuticals business.
However, he didn’t state that he was still a director of his company in violation of the Code of Conduct of the MPs.
Russell established EPIFNY in 2016 In 2016, Russell founded EPIFNY. This company is a contractor for the NHS.
Russell, who is part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Digital Health and the health select committee on health, has previously spoken to the Commons about the efficiency of the NHS. However, Russell last night declined to identify the current EPIFNY clients.
The MP stated that the directorship was “unremunerated” and that all payments were correctly declared.
It’s possible that Watford is due for an epiphany.
Nimco’s lonely Christmas
The Evening Standard’s single female writer last week expressed a genuine fear of being locked up again for ‘weeks, or months’.
There was only one thing missing from Nimco’s tear-jerking column. It wasn’t all her fault.
Like so many of last year’s yuletide celebrations, Nimco was also with Carrie, her bestie and aka, the PM’s wife. We later discovered that she was in Downing Street, nestled with Boris (and Wilfred) in a baby-bubble.
Nimco, we feel you and your struggles. We only wish the wine and cheese are up to your standards if an invitation is extended.
Above, Nimco Ali and Carrie Johnson. Like so many of last year’s yuletide festivities, we discovered, late, that Nimco was in Christmas with Carrie Johnson (aka the PM’s wife) at Downing Street, where she was in a baby-bubble with Boris and Wilfred.
Another revelation about a ‘one rule fits all’, this one involving Trudy Harrison, Transport Minister.
Recently, she told British citizens that having a car is in the last century.
Harrison said that the UK is near a “tipping point” where bike sharing, car clubs, and scooters will become viable alternatives. It seems that this is not the case for her.
The petrolhead has claimed £5,714 mileage expenses and £1,373 for her own car since 2017 but refuses to tell me if she’s now given it up.
Maybe she will spare us all the lectures until she’s spotted wandering around Cumbria’s Copeland Constituency.
Transport Minister Trudy Harrison recently told the British public that owning cars is so last century – but she has claimed £5,714 mileage expenses and £1,373 for her own car since 2017 but refuses to tell me if she’s now given it up
More Christmas jokes are part of the Tory panto season.
After Allegra Widow Twankey’ Stratton and ‘Baron Hardup’ Johnson, I hear that there’s a?Silly Billy’ in the mother of all parliaments.
Royston Smith (Tory MP for Southampton Itchen) told whips he was against vaccine passports.
Before last Tuesday’s critical vote, Smith slapped George Osborne after he tweeted that asking to see proof of vaccination in a club was not a slippery slope to Gestapo. Smith responded: “Asked is fine. Mandated not.”
There should have been 100 Tory rebels, not 99, but Smith strolled through the ‘Aye’ Lobby – by mistake.
He stated that he had made it very clear to whips that I would not support Covid passports.
Tip: Left foot, right foot. Turn your head. Repeat.