Tory MP Tim Yeo ‘abused position in return for cash’
Tory MP Tim Yeo, who heads the government’s energy and climate change committee, is facing allegations that he offered to use his position to further business interests.
The MP for South Suffolk was filmed telling undercover journalists he was close to “really all the key players in the UK in government”.
He apparently said he could not speak out publicly for the green energy firm they claimed to represent because “people will say he’s saying this because of his commercial interest”.
However, he reportedly assured them: “What I say to people in private is another matter altogether.”
Mr Yeo, the latest in a line of politicians caught up in lobbying stings, was not responding to phone calls or text messages this weekend.
He released a statement in which he said he totally rejects” allegations he breached lobbying rules and confirmed he has referred himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
‘Coached a paying client’
The Sunday Times footage showed Mr Yeo seemingly suggesting that he had coached a paying client on how to influence the committee.
“I was able to tell him in advance what he should say,” he said.
Mr Yeo apparently excused himself from asking questions at the committee hearing because of the conflict of interest.
The reporters approached the MP posing as representatives of a solar energy company offering to hire him as a paid advocate to push for new laws to boost its business for a fee of £7,000 a day.
He told them he could commit to at least one day a month, despite the fact that he already held four private jobs and was in negotiations to take a further two.
Mr Yeo said: “If you want to meet the right people, I can facilitate all those introductions and I can use the knowledge I get from what is quite an active network of connections.”
Members forbidden from acting as paid advocates
Asked if that extended to government figures, Yeo replied: “Yes.”
Responding to the allegations, the MP told the Sunday Times he denied offering to provide parliamentary advice or advocacy, because that would be a breach of the code of conduct.
He also denied tutoring a client on what he should say to the select committee.
Mr Yeo is said to have referred himself to the Commons standards commissioner for the allegations to be investigated.