It could not be worse.
Cameron was elected as the Great Crusader against the excesses of lobbying. He promised a tough implementation of the Ministerial Code.
He has now trampled on the Ministerial Code. Jeremy Hunt has broken the code in three ways - including failing to take responsibility for his dumped-on adviser. Leveson will not report his decision on Hunt for weeks, but Cameron has declared Hunt innocent without an appearance before the Independent Adviser to the code Sir Alex Allan. The adviser told PASC that if he was bypassed by the PM he would resign. Will he do that today because he has been humiliated by Cameron?
The Conservatives have embraced the worst practices of the seedy lobbyists to the extent of 500 messages from Murdoch's man. The exoneration without trial of Hunt is a disgrace that demeans politics. Today is the day that the Government has lost its own self-respect.
The main task of all politicians is to restore public trust and confidence. David Cameron should suspend Jeremy Hunt until Leveson reports. Regardless of Leveson's conclusion he then should submit him to Sir Alex Allan for possible breaches of the ministerial code. His refusal to implement the code is a cynical, desperate and dishonourable act of cowardice. It drags politics back into the gutter.
EDM I put down last week:
That this House regrets the failure to investigate legitimately three alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code by the former Defence Secretary, the Communities Secretary and the Culture Secretary; notes that the former Independent Adviser said at the time of his resignation that he should have investigated the alleged breach of the code by the former Defence Minister; condemns the failure of Government to respect the unanimous review of the Public Administration Committee that the replacement Independent Adviser is unsuitable for his role; and calls on the Select Committee to do its duty and investigate the degradation of the valuable reform enshrined in the Ministerial Code.
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