Boris Johnson told to stop asking Richard Sharp for financial advice days before he was made BBC chair – reports | Politics News
Boris Johnson is said to have been asked to stop asking Richard Sharp for “advice” on his “personal financial matters” just days before he was announced as the new BBC chairman.
Mr. Johnsonwho was prime minister at the time, was warned by officials to stop discussing his financial deals with Mr Sharp on December 22, 2020, according to The Sunday Times.
Mr Sharp will be announced as president of the BBC on 6 January 2021.
The former banker has faced calls to step down as BBC chairman after it was reported that in late 2020 he had introduced Sam Blyth to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to discuss whether Mr. Blyth, a distant cousin of Mr. Johnson, with whom Mr. Sharp got to know better. 40 years, can act as a guarantor of the prime loan for the prime minister.
Mr Sharp has previously said he would stay in place, with the BBC president to be questioned by MPs about the controversy next month.
A spokesman for the former prime minister said Mr Sharp “never gave Boris Johnson any financial advice, nor did Mr Johnson seek any financial advice from him”.
They added: “Neither Mr Johnson nor anyone representing him is aware that Sam Blyth is being considered for any role at the British Council, nor has Mr Johnson had any discussions with Sam. Blyth or anyone else of any such role.
“Neither Mr Johnson nor anyone representing him spoke to anyone in the FCDO (Office of Foreign Affairs, Federal and Developmental Affairs).) regarding Mr. Blyth for any appointment.”
The spokesperson said that “throughout this process, as documents obtained by The Sunday Times demonstrate, Mr. Johnson has followed the advice and taken the necessary steps to ensure truthfulness. All statements are truthful. are all done right”.
The newspaper, citing a leaked Cabinet Office memo, said the advice was given by top civil servant Mr Case after Mr Johnson and Mr Sharp sought advice on accepting an 800,000 loan. board from Mr. Blyth.
Mr Johnson is said to have secured the loan in February 2021.
The article quotes advice from Mr Case, which states: “With the announcement of the imminent appointment of Richard Sharp as BBC’s new president, it is important that you no longer seek his advice on financial matters. my own personal.”
Publicity appointing commissioner William Shawcross has said he plans to investigate Mr Sharp’s appointment as BBC chairman, following the first series of reports last week.
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BBC chairman Richard Sharp is confident he is ‘deservedly appointed’ following Boris Johnson’s loan
Mr Sharp told BBC News last week he was “comfortable” with the way the process was conducted.
The newspaper also reported that Mr Blyth had appeared on the Foreign Office’s list of four proposed candidates during the British Council’s search for chief executive, given his family ties to Mr Johnson. not disclosed to high-ranking councilors.
Mr Blyth told the newspaper he had self-excluded on December 7, 2020 and had not filed a formal application.
“I believe my name may have been suggested by civil servants trying to identify potential candidates at the search stage of the appointment process,” he said.
The head of the Liberal Democrats, Wendy Chamberlain, called on the government to release Mr Johnson’s internal register of interests.
She said: “How can Johnson claim that Richard Sharp knows nothing about his personal finances when he has been explicitly asked by officials to stop asking for his financial advice?
“The public is fed up with these endless lies and the Conservative cover-up. This government must clean up and make all relevant documents public, including the internal register of interests. by Boris Johnson, so we can get to the root of this.”
Mr Sharp said last week that “having discussed with the cabinet secretary about conflict avoidance and perception of conflict, I feel comfortable and I still feel there is no conflict because at that stage, that’s what what I’m trying to do is make sure that the process is followed exactly in the book and that the process hasn’t started, in any way, of any assistance that Sam (Blyth) would provide. prime minister”.
“I have clarified and agree with the cabinet secretary, we both have the view that I should avoid conflict or perceive conflict.”
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: “We do not comment on leaks.”