A Tory Minister has claimed taxpayers’ ought to foot Michelle Donelan’s £15,000 authorized invoice in a defamation case as she refused a redundancy fee for serving as Education Secretary for 2 days.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt defended the Science and Tech Secretary’s “character”, saying the very fact she handed again a severance fee in 2022 for her stint within the dying days of Boris Johnson’s authorities reveals “how much she values” taxpayers’ cash. Ms Donelan is dealing with calls to pay her personal authorized charges after she falsely accused tutorial Professor Kate Sang of supporting Hamas. Taxpayers have been left to foot the £15,000 invoice.
Downing Street stated the Prime Minister retains confidence in her and insisted there’s a “long-standing principle that ministers get legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a minister”.
Responding to Labour’s questions on the row within the Commons, Ms Mordaunt stated: “I would remind this House that when (Ms Donelan) was entitled to redundancy payments from being a Secretary of State, which was £16,000, she did not take that and handed it back to the department, because it was the right thing to do. I would just remind people of that and I think that speaks volumes about her character and how much she values the fact that it is taxpayers’ money that we are talking about.”
In July 2022, Ms Donelan give up her function as Education Secretary after lower than two days amid a flurry of high-profile resignations, making her tenure the shortest of any Cabinet member in fashionable British historical past. She was entitled to almost £17,000 in redundancy pay on the time, however refused it.
Keir Starmer stated taxpayers footing the invoice for damages was “totally insulting”. Speaking throughout a go to to a development web site within the City of London on Thursday, the Labour chief stated “I think most people watching this will be aghast.
“The Government is telling them on daily basis that they can not do any extra to assist them. People are actually struggling to pay their payments, and the Government says: ‘We cannot afford that will help you anymore.’ People know that public companies are crumbling. And then you definately’ve obtained a minister who says one thing she should not have stated, then has to select up a authorized motion and pay damages and prices, after which says: ‘The taxpayer goes to pay for that’.”
Rishi Sunak stated he had been “targeted on the Budget ” when asked why Ms Donelan had not been sacked. He told broadcasters: “Obviously you’ll perceive I’ve been targeted on the Budget, however my understanding of that is that Michelle raised some considerations about some articles that had been shared speaking about what occurred on October 7.
“I think subsequently to that, those thoughts I think have been clarified and Michelle has withdrawn those concerns. With regard to the settlement, it is a long-standing convention stretching back many years, over different governments of all different parties, including Labour, that the Government will fund those legal disputes when it relates to Government ministers doing their work.”
In October final yr, Ms Donelan shared a letter on Twitter suggesting Prof Sang had expressed sympathy for Hamas after its assault on Israel. Ms Donelan has since apologised and withdrawn her feedback.
No10 declined to say whether or not Ms Donelan adopted Government recommendation in tweeting the letter. Shadow Commons chief Lucy Powell referred to as for affirmation on whether or not the Cabinet minister had adopted “appropriate advice” that was given to her, or had gone towards it. “Because if so, then surely she should personally pay the costs,” she stated.
The Labour frontbencher demanded Ms Donelan make a press release to MPs on what occurred, including: “If the money was paid by taxpayers because it related to her ministerial responsibilities, then she must come to Parliament as a minister and account for that.”