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George Freeman, the Conservative MP representing Mid-Norfolk, has been informed that he will not be subjected to a parliamentary standards investigation regarding allegations of lobbying. Back in June, Freeman voluntarily referred himself to the standards commissioner amidst accusations that a company he was affiliated with had assisted him in formulating questions directed at the government. Having previously served as a science minister, Freeman had been cautioned regarding potential conflicts of interest in lobbying the Labour government.
Expressing his satisfaction with the outcome, Freeman highlighted that the decision was made due to insufficient grounds for a formal investigation and dismissed the allegations as baseless. He emphasized that the rules on registration and declaration were adhered to in his advocacy efforts pertaining to matters of public interest, notwithstanding any personal financial interests involved. The focal point of the controversy stemmed from allegations of “cash for questions” linked to Freeman’s consultancy work for GHGSat, an entity specializing in greenhouse gas monitoring satellite technology.
The claims asserted that Freeman collaborated with the company’s director to determine the content of parliamentary questions, as detailed in a report by the Sunday Times. It was also alleged that Freeman sought assistance in phrasing the questions in a manner suited for parliamentary usage. During the initial stages of the investigation, Freeman maintained his innocence, asserting that he had acted within the boundaries of propriety. Notably, Freeman had disclosed his affiliation with GHGSat in his register of interests, indicating a monthly remuneration of £5,000 for a specified amount of work per month.
Following his notification to the appointments watchdog Acoba regarding his involvement with GHGSat, Freeman received advice to abstain from engaging in any form of lobbying activities on behalf of the company with the UK government. Having served in ministerial capacities under Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, Freeman presently serves on the science, innovation, and technology committee. Comments from the Conservatives and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner are awaited on this development
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