Ethics adviser must investigate Sunak over wife’s shares in company benefiting from government scheme

The Liberal Democrats have called for the government’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to investigate Rishi Sunak over a potential breach of the ministerial code. It follows revelations that the Prime Minister’s wife owns shares in one of the private childcare providers, Koru Kids, that will benefit from a new government pilot.

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Wendy Chamberlain said:

“There are serious questions for Rishi Sunak to answer over any potential conflict of interest, and any extra income his family could receive from his own government’s policy. 

“Too often we have seen Conservative sleaze run amok. The public must be reassured that any breach of the ministerial code by the Prime Minister will be fully investigated.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Text of the letter sent by Wendy Chamberlain MP

 Dear Sir, 

I am writing following reports this morning relating to the Prime Minister’s family’s financial interests.

Measures announced in the recent Budget included a pilot scheme trialing some of the government’s changes to childcare. Six private childcare providers are being consulted regarding the scheme, including a company named Koru Kids. These providers will reportedly benefit financially from both the pilot and the forthcoming changes.

It has since emerged that Akshata Murthy, the Prime Minister’s wife, holds shares in Koru Kids.

As you will be aware, the Ministerial Code is clear that: 

“Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.” [Ministerial Code, 7.1].

And, further, that: 

“Ministers must scrupulously avoid any danger of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between their Ministerial position and their private financial interests. They should be guided by the general principle that they should either dispose of the interest giving rise to the conflict or take alternative steps to prevent it.” [7.7]

The Prime Minister’s family does appear to have a relevant financial interest in Koru Kids - which has benefitted from a recent change to government policy. There is a clear question as to whether articles 7.1 and 7.7 of the Ministerial Code have been breached. 

I therefore urge you to investigate whether the Code has been broken; and if it has not, what steps the Prime Minister took to ensure that no conflict arose. In particular please set out whether he made you or other senior officials aware of the financial interest in Koru Kids when the childcare policy was being developed.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Wendy