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Jeremy Hunt to be investigated over media donations Jeremy Hunt to be investigated over media donations
(about 3 hours later)
Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, is to be investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner over claims that he failed to register donations from media companies while in opposition.Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, is to be investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner over claims that he failed to register donations from media companies while in opposition.
John Lyon, the parliamentary standards commissioner, announced the inquiry on Monday in response to a complaint earlier in May from Labour MP Stephen McCabe.John Lyon, the parliamentary standards commissioner, announced the inquiry on Monday in response to a complaint earlier in May from Labour MP Stephen McCabe.
McCabe wrote to the commissioner raising concerns about a series of "networking events" involving eight media and creative industry organisations which culture minister Ed Vaizey said he and Hunt had attended while in opposition before the May 2010 general election.McCabe wrote to the commissioner raising concerns about a series of "networking events" involving eight media and creative industry organisations which culture minister Ed Vaizey said he and Hunt had attended while in opposition before the May 2010 general election.
Vaizey recorded the events in the register of interests as donations in kind worth a total of around £27,000. Hunt did not mention them in his own entry in the register, claimed McCabe.Vaizey recorded the events in the register of interests as donations in kind worth a total of around £27,000. Hunt did not mention them in his own entry in the register, claimed McCabe.
A spokeswoman for the culture secretary, who is facing calls to resign from Labour over his handling of News Corporation's abandoned takeover bid for BSkyB, said he had amended his register entry since the complaint was raised.A spokeswoman for the culture secretary, who is facing calls to resign from Labour over his handling of News Corporation's abandoned takeover bid for BSkyB, said he had amended his register entry since the complaint was raised.
She declined to comment on the allegations, but said that Hunt would co-operate with the commissioner's inquiry.She declined to comment on the allegations, but said that Hunt would co-operate with the commissioner's inquiry.
Hunt is fighting for his political life after the resignation of his special adviser Adam Smith last month over allegations of an inappropriate level of contact with a News Corp lobbyist during the Sky takeover bid.Hunt is fighting for his political life after the resignation of his special adviser Adam Smith last month over allegations of an inappropriate level of contact with a News Corp lobbyist during the Sky takeover bid.
Hunt maintains that he acted correctly and in a quasi-judicial manner while he was considering whether to give the bid the green light in 2010 and 2011.Hunt maintains that he acted correctly and in a quasi-judicial manner while he was considering whether to give the bid the green light in 2010 and 2011.
Lyon's office confirmed that an inquiry had been launched but declined to comment further.Lyon's office confirmed that an inquiry had been launched but declined to comment further.
Details of the donations first emerged earlier this month, with the failure to declare them by Hunt described at the time by aides as the result of a "miscommunication" between the culture secretary and Vaizey.Details of the donations first emerged earlier this month, with the failure to declare them by Hunt described at the time by aides as the result of a "miscommunication" between the culture secretary and Vaizey.
Hunt attended three networking events before the election, it emerged in early May. They were sponsored by the advertising agency DDB UK, which paid £1,473.81 in September 2009; the Groucho Club, which provided £1,435 in November 2009; and M&C Saatchi, which stumped up £4,563.50 in July 2009.Hunt attended three networking events before the election, it emerged in early May. They were sponsored by the advertising agency DDB UK, which paid £1,473.81 in September 2009; the Groucho Club, which provided £1,435 in November 2009; and M&C Saatchi, which stumped up £4,563.50 in July 2009.
The culture secretary was expected to have to declare donations totalling £3,736.15 – half of the value of the three events.The culture secretary was expected to have to declare donations totalling £3,736.15 – half of the value of the three events.
A spokeswoman for Hunt said earlier in May: "We are going to correct the register. Jeremy Hunt did not go to a majority of these events. He did not attend the BSkyB event but he did attend three of these events which he will declare.A spokeswoman for Hunt said earlier in May: "We are going to correct the register. Jeremy Hunt did not go to a majority of these events. He did not attend the BSkyB event but he did attend three of these events which he will declare.
"This was a miscommunication. Ed Vaizey made a declaration. Jeremy thought that covered the events which were organised by Ed.""This was a miscommunication. Ed Vaizey made a declaration. Jeremy thought that covered the events which were organised by Ed."
Hunt is facing calls for his resignation after 163 pages of emails written by Frédéric Michel when he was News Corp's head of European public affairs in 2010 and 2011 were released by the company to the Leveson inquiry.
The emails appeared to show that Hunt's office was passing information about the minister's BSkyB bid approval process to the company during 2010 and 2011.
Hunt said that the volume and tone of the communication between Smith and Michel could not be justified but denied there was an inappropriate relationship between himself and News Corp.
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