Ex-Tory minister suspended as trade envoy over 'cash for questions' claims

A former Conservative minister has been "asked to step back" from his role as a trade envoy following claims a company he was being paid by helped him write questions of claims to government departments.

George Freeman was previously listed as a trade envoy for Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei, but Downing Street said the role had now been "suspended".

The MP for Mid-Norfolk since 2010 referred himself to the parliamentary watchdog following claims he was paid by a company that helped him write questions to government departments.

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The Times newspaper reported he submitted queries to Labour ministers about the sector the firm operates in, and he referred himself over the matter.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "Parliamentary standards are a matter for the House and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

"And you can see the individual has referred himself to that process.

"While that investigation takes place, it is right he has been asked to step back from the role, and he has been suspended in representing the UK as a trade envoy until that process has been concluded."

Alleged leaked emails were published by The Times that showed Mr Freeman asking the company's director what to ask about as he prepared written parliamentary questions related to space data and emissions tracking.

The MP is said to have tabled the questions to ask for more information on policies and activities of government departments to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Mr Freeman, minister for science, research and innovation under Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, became a paid adviser with GHGSat, a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring service, in April last year.

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In a statement over the weekend, when he referred himself to the watchdog, Mr Freeman said he did not believe he had done "anything wrong" but that he was referring himself to the standards commissioner.

"As a longstanding advocate of important new technologies, companies and industries, working cross-party through APPGs and the select committee, I regularly ask experts for clarification on technical points and terminology, and deeply respect and try to assiduously follow the code of conduct for MPs and the need to act always in the public interest," he said.

"Throughout my 15 years in parliament (and government) I have always understood the need to be transparent in the work I have done for and with commercial clients and charities and am always willing to answer any criticism.

"I don't believe I have done anything wrong but I am immediately referring myself to the parliamentary commissioner for standards and will accept his judgment in due course."

He added: "I am very concerned at the unauthorised and targeted access to my emails and diary which I have raised with the police and parliamentary authorities."