“Theresa May today told ministers they need to be more transparent – but was herself accused of keeping the public in the dark over a cash-for-access dinner with super-rich donors.
The Prime Minister’s office has published a letter that May sent to all her Cabinet ministers about the need for government transparency. She writes:
“Online transparency is crucial to delivering value for money, to cutting waste and inefficiency, and to ensuring every pound of taxpayers’ money is spent in the best possible way…
“…The sunlight of transparency also acts in itself as an important check and balance, and helps ensure the highest standards of public life among senior government representatives.”
Very admirable. Sadly though, these principles seem go out the window when it comes to the Conservative party.
Because, in other news today, May has been accused of “hiding her links to billionaires after secretly dining with super-rich donors.”
A source has told the Daily Mirror that May attended a “lavish meal” with a host of super-rich Tory donors, which took place hours after the Government had frozen benefits.
The meal is likely to have been part of the Tory party’s Leaders’ Group, which allows the rich to buy access to the PM and Cabinet ministers for a minimum donation of £50,000.
The Tories promised to release a list of people attending these meals with ministers once every three months – but they have failed to provide any details of events that have taken place this year.
If May really wants to improve transparency in politics she only needs to walk across the hall to have a word with Patrick McLoughlin, a minister in her department who also happens to be the Chairman of the Conservative party.
Surely she wouldn’t let her party fall below the standards she’s setting her government?”
East Devon Watch 