21 September 2023 , 15:47
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Rishi Sunak has been accused of breaking the ministerial code during his speech tearing up the UK’s climate policies.
There have been calls for a probe into the event, amid claims he used an official government building for political campaign purposes, in breach of the rules. Ministers are allowed to use government buildings to communicate government policy - but not party political messages.
The Mirror understands Tom Brake, Director of the campaign group Unlock Democracy, has written to Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM’s ethics advisor, calling for an investigation. When the Prime Minister gave his speech, widely seen as launching of the Tory election campaign, he did so from behind a podium emblazoned with the slogan “Long-Term Decisions for a Brighter Future”.
How the same slogan appears on the Tories' Conference AgendaThe same phrase was used on TV screens around the briefing room at Number 9 Downing Street - the official government building where the speech took place. But it’s also the Conservative Party is using for its annual conference next week - and it’s written in large letters across the cover of the Conference guide.
Mr Brake told the Mirror: "The Ministerial Code is clear, there can be no blurring of the lines between Government publicity and party political material and the PM's actions appear to be a very clear breach."
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Alastair Campbell, who was No10's Director of Communications under Tony Blair, said: "If Sunak knowingly used a Tory Party conference slogan in a government building it is a clear breach of the ministerial code and a clear breach of the civil service code by any officials involved."
Sections 6.2 and 6.3 of the Code bans Ministers - including the Prime Minister - from using official facilities and resources for the “dissemination of material which is essentially party political.” And it says government property should not be used for “party political activities.”
Section 8 of the code refers to the Civil Service guidance on the use of government resources - which states it is not “proper” for official communications to “use political slogans.” It also states: “Government [press officers] or other resources cannot be used for image-making, or building ministers’ personal brands, which is the province of the party political machine.”
There is an exception for Number 10, allowing the PM to host political events there as it is his official residence - as long as the party covers the cost itself. But no such exemption applies to No 9, where the Government’s media centre is.
"It is noticeable that taxpayer-funded Government publicity material often bears a striking resemblance to Conservative party publicity material. Here it is a straightforward copy," Mr Brake wrote in his letter to Sir Laurie.
"The PM’s actions, in speaking from a podium emblazoned with a slogan that is so strongly associated with the Conservative Party, appears to have breached the code a number of times, including sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 8.1.
"I believe this particular example, and a wider pattern of behaviour, should be investigated.
"I look forward to your response setting out what action you are able to take."
A government spokesperson said: “This is Government messaging and it is the Government Communication Service’s job to explain the policies of Government and support the delivery of its priorities and public services.
“It is not uncommon for the governing party to use government messaging in its materials. Such practices have been the case under previous administrations.”
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