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John Whittingdale under parliamentary investigation over MTV awards trip John Whittingdale under parliamentary investigation over MTV awards trip
(35 minutes later)
The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has been placed under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards after he did not declare a trip to the MTV Europe awards in Amsterdam in 2013 with his then girlfriend, a dominatrix sex worker.The culture secretary, John Whittingdale, has been placed under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards after he did not declare a trip to the MTV Europe awards in Amsterdam in 2013 with his then girlfriend, a dominatrix sex worker.
Kathryn Hudson has launched an investigation, her spokeswoman said on Friday, after Labour MP Neil Coyle complained Whittingdale should have declared the trip because of the cost of the flights, hotel bill and entertainment, which were covered by MTV.Kathryn Hudson has launched an investigation, her spokeswoman said on Friday, after Labour MP Neil Coyle complained Whittingdale should have declared the trip because of the cost of the flights, hotel bill and entertainment, which were covered by MTV.
They would need to be declared if they had exceeded 1% of his salary, which is the threshold under parliamentary rules.They would need to be declared if they had exceeded 1% of his salary, which is the threshold under parliamentary rules.
After news of his relationship with the sex worker broke earlier this month, Whittingdale said he had met her on Match.com, the dating website, and had ended the seven-month relationship after he learned from a national newspaper investigating the story that she was a prostitute.After news of his relationship with the sex worker broke earlier this month, Whittingdale said he had met her on Match.com, the dating website, and had ended the seven-month relationship after he learned from a national newspaper investigating the story that she was a prostitute.
News that several media organisations knew about the story but did not run it sparked claims that Whittingdale was compromised in his role overseeing press regulation as he knew that newspapers were sitting on embarassing revelations about his private life. But the press insisted that they didn’t run the story about the relationship because it was not in the public interest. Whittingdale is a single man. News that several media organisations knew about the story but did not run it sparked claims that Whittingdale was compromised in his role overseeing press regulation as he knew that newspapers were sitting on embarassing revelations about his private life. But the press insisted that they did not run the story about the relationship because it was not in the public interest. Whittingdale is a single man.
A source close to Whittingdale said: “John inquired about the cost of the trip from the organiser and it was advised it was £534.82. John was told this was under the threshold and so he did not need to declare it.”A source close to Whittingdale said: “John inquired about the cost of the trip from the organiser and it was advised it was £534.82. John was told this was under the threshold and so he did not need to declare it.”
The standards commissioner can either chose to rule that the allegation is not made out or resolve it informally in cases of “minor or inadvertent” cases. If she considers it a serious breach she must refer the case to parliament’s standards committee which alone has the power to recommend sanctions. The standards commissioner can either choose to rule that the allegation is not made out or resolve it informally in cases of “minor or inadvertent” cases. If she considers it a serious breach she must refer the case to parliament’s standards committee which alone has the power to recommend sanctions.