Labour demands explanation from Robert Jenrick over meeting with 'family friend' with potential interest in mining project

Housing secretary already under pressure over decision on £1bn Richard Desmond property plan

(PA)

Labour is demanding an explanation from beleaguered housing secretary Robert Jenrick over a ministerial meeting with a “family friend” with potential interests in a mining issue he was overseeing.

It came as pressure mounted on Mr Jenrick over his decision to approve a £1bn housing development planned by billionaire Tory donor Richard Desmond, with the The Sunday Times reporting an anonymous official as saying that civil servants “begged” him not to wave through the project, which they reportedly said was “70 to 80 per cent” likely to be judicially reviewed.

It was revealed earlier this week that Mr Jenrick met Idan Ofer while a minister at the Treasury, where he was responsible for considering a request for financial support from Sirius Minerals for a North Yorkshire mining project that could have competed with the Israeli billionaire’s own firm.

Jenrick’s spokesperson told The Guardian that the minister informed officials, who advised him to step back from the decision on Sirius.

But the paper today reported that he may have retained oversight of the issue for a further six months before handing over to Liz Truss in early 2019. Later that year, Sirius revealed the government had refused to provide support and the struggling company was later bought out by Anglo American.

In February 2019, one of Mr Ofer’s other companies Quantum Pacific UK Corporation made a £10,000 donation to the Conservatives, which the businessman reportedly said was linked to a request from the Conservative Friends of Israel. Labour shadow communities secretary Steve Reed said: “Mr Jenrick must now tell us whether he declared his friendship with Mr Ofer to officials prior to the meeting, why he did not immediately step back from making the decision and what further discussions he had with Mr Ofer.

“It’s time for some honesty. Mr Jenrick must come to the House of Commons to explain exactly what he’s been up to because the public are now worried that a new era of Tory sleaze has begun in earnest.”

A spokesperson for Mr Jenrick said: “Whilst exchequer secretary, Mr Jenrick met with a number of stakeholders to discuss electric vehicles and charge point technology.

“This included a meeting with Mr Ofer, who has substantial experience in the industry. Officials from [the Treasury] attended those meetings and they were disclosed in his ministerial transparency data in the usual way.”

The spokesperson added: “Mr Jenrick recused himself from consideration of issues around Sirius Minerals.

“He did so before ministerial decisions were taken on the project, which I understand were taken after he had left HM Treasury in any case. Mr Ofer is a family friend. Mr Jenrick raised this with officials and voluntarily recused himself on their advice.”

Labour has already referred Mr Jenrick to the parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Stone over his dealings with Mr Desmond, after he overruled a local council and planning inspector to approve the Tory donor’s £1bn housing plan in Westferry, east London, in a way which he later accepted was unlawful.

Speaking to the The Sunday Times, Mr Desmond claimed that Mr Johnson said he would raise the maximum prize limit for his Health Lottery to £1m after the pair spoke at a Downing Street event.