Cummings’ secret meetings with Sunak: Inquiry needed into potential breach of Ministerial Code 

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have called for an official inquiry into whether Rishi Sunak breached the Ministerial Code by failing to declare meetings he held with Dominic Cummings last July and in December 2022.

Rishi Sunak’s transparency returns do not include any meetings with Cummings during the periods when both are reported to have taken place.

It comes despite the Ministerial Code requiring ministers to publish details of meetings held with external individuals where official business was discussed, including what areas of policy were covered. According to the Sunday Times, Cummings called for significant changes in government policy during the meeting including an emergency budget, tax cuts and addressing NHS strikes. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Cabinet Office to launch an inquiry into whether Rishi Sunak breached the Code by failing to declare the meetings in the proper way. The party also called for the inquiry to clarify whether any officials were present during the talks, and if not whether the content of the discussions had been reported to the Cabinet Office, as required under the Code.

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain said:

“Rishi Sunak’s failure to declare his secret meetings with Dominic Cummings appears to be a clear breach of the Ministerial Code. These shady attempts to bring back Cummings through the back door need to be properly scrutinised.

“We urgently need to know why these meetings weren’t declared in the proper way, and if any officials were present or informed. Given reports that major changes to government policy were discussed that would impact on millions of people’s lives, from taxes to the NHS, the public deserves full transparency, not another cover up.

"People are fed up with this never ending Conservative Party soap opera while they struggle to see a GP and mortgages and rents go through the roof."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Rishi Sunak’s transparency return on meetings held from July to September 2023 can be found here. Meetings held between October and December 2022 can be found here.

Ministerial Code can be found here. The Code states that: “If a Minister meets an external organisation or individual and finds themselves discussing official business without an official present … any significant content should be passed back to the department as soon as possible after the event.” 

Ministers transparency guidance can be found here. This states that: “Where a minister meets an external organisation or individual in an official capacity, details of these meetings must be declared.” It also states that “Where a meeting was with an individual not connected with an organisation, the name of the individual should be provided, unless they do not have a prominent public profile.”