Ex-Tory minister suspended as trade envoy over 'cash for questions' claims

A erstwhile Conservative curate has been "asked to measurement back" from his relation arsenic a commercialized envoy pursuing claims a institution helium was being paid by helped him constitute questions of claims to authorities departments.

George Freeman was antecedently listed arsenic a commercialized envoy for Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei, but Downing Street said the relation had present been "suspended".

The MP for Mid-Norfolk since 2010 referred himself to the parliamentary watchdog pursuing claims helium was paid by a institution that helped him constitute questions to authorities departments.

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The Times paper reported helium submitted queries to Labour ministers astir the assemblage the steadfast operates in, and helium referred himself implicit the matter.

A Number 10 spokesperson said: "Parliamentary standards are a substance for the House and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

"And you tin spot the idiosyncratic has referred himself to that process.

"While that probe takes place, it is close helium has been asked to measurement backmost from the role, and helium has been suspended successful representing the UK arsenic a commercialized envoy until that process has been concluded."

Alleged leaked emails were published by The Times that showed Mr Freeman asking the company's manager what to inquire astir arsenic helium prepared written parliamentary questions related to abstraction information and emissions tracking.

The MP is said to person tabled the questions to inquire for much accusation connected policies and activities of authorities departments to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Mr Freeman, curate for science, probe and innovation nether Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, became a paid advisor with GHGSat, a greenhouse state emissions monitoring service, successful April past year.

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In a connection implicit the weekend, erstwhile helium referred himself to the watchdog, Mr Freeman said helium did not judge helium had done "anything wrong" but that helium was referring himself to the standards commissioner.

"As a longstanding advocator of important caller technologies, companies and industries, moving cross-party done APPGs and the prime committee, I regularly inquire experts for clarification connected method points and terminology, and profoundly respect and effort to assiduously travel the codification of behaviour for MPs and the request to enactment ever successful the nationalist interest," helium said.

"Throughout my 15 years successful parliament (and government) I person ever understood the request to beryllium transparent successful the enactment I person done for and with commercialized clients and charities and americium ever consenting to reply immoderate criticism.

"I don't judge I person done thing incorrect but I americium instantly referring myself to the parliamentary commissioner for standards and volition judge his judgement successful owed course."

He added: "I americium precise acrophobic astatine the unauthorised and targeted entree to my emails and diary which I person raised with the constabulary and parliamentary authorities."