Robert Jenrick - is sleaze rearing its ugly head again?

[shed driver]

There doesn't seem to be a NP&E topic about this - just an odd mention in a rather obscure post in the DIY subforum https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

A developer gets planning approval the day before tax changes would cost him many tens of millions and then makes a donation to the Tory party. Links via lobbyists to the PM and then a high court case leading to the withdrawal of the approval after being accused of bias.

Is he badly advised? Naive? Borderline corrupt? Has he breached the Ministerial Code?

All very murky.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8420021/P...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/14/r...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53020534

SD.

[biggbn]

I would suggest the application of the duck test. Walking and sounding like one generally, but not always, supports a supposition of ducklike existentialism. A continuance of said walk and sound reduces the margin of error in supposition. Quack quack.

[iphonedyou]

biggbn said:

I would suggest the application of the duck test. Walking and sounding like one generally, but not always, supports a supposition of ducklike existentialism. A continuance of said walk and sound reduces the margin of error in supposition. Quack quack.

Existentialism doesn't mean what you think it does.

[biggbn]

iphonedyou said:

Existentialism doesn't mean what you think it does.

It means what I meant it to in that not altogether serious piece. Happy to discuss existentialism although this thread may not be the place to do so. I freely admit to having hijacked and bdized its meaning to indicate the existence of an analogous duck in the case of Jenrick. Im not sure if his individual moral framework would allow him any existential angst were he to have a crisis of self. But I am relatively happy to attribute a temporary ducklike existentialism for the purposes of this conversation. I would add a simley face but don't have the nous to do so....

[DeejRC]

How about we apply the law? Is he guilty of any particular law?

Apart from that though...who is he?

[Highway Star]

shed driver said:

There doesn't seem to be a NP&E topic about this - just an odd mention in a rather obscure post in the DIY subforum https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Hey, my post isn't odd! ;-)

I spend my a lot of my professional life defending the planning system from members of the public who claim that it is biased and corrupt yet sadly in my view this absolutely reeks. Last week I attended a webinar hosted by 5 of the country's leading planning QCs; this case was discussed and they were unanimous in their opinion that a full public inquiry should be held. At the moment the CLG Select Committee are considering an inquiry.

Jenrick has admitted that his decision letter was ‘unlawful by reason of apparent bias’ and therefore should be quashed. By consenting to judgment, Jenrick has avoided the publication of all correspondence in open court on this case...

And now Jenrick is backing Dominic Cummings' and Policy Exchange's calls for a permanent shift in planning decision-making, away from local councils towards “development corporations” under government control...

[BigBiffa]

He is the Minister of Housing, to get in the cabinet you had to be a Tory MP, a supporter of Brexit and worship at the court of King Dominic, the old CofEq couldn't stomach it and left but they have enough live bodies to fill the posts. Not sure about brains and morality though.

[vonuber]

Highway Star said:

Hey, my post isn't odd! ;-)

I spend my a lot of my professional life defending the planning system from members of the public who claim that it is biased and corrupt yet sadly in my view this absolutely reeks. Last week I attended a webinar hosted by 5 of the country's leading planning QCs; this case was discussed and they were unanimous in their opinion that a full public inquiry should be held. At the moment the CLG Select Committee are considering an inquiry.

Jenrick has admitted that his decision letter was ‘unlawful by reason of apparent bias’ and therefore should be quashed. By consenting to judgment, Jenrick has avoided the publication of all correspondence in open court on this case...

And now Jenrick is backing Dominic Cummings' and Policy Exchange's calls for a permanent shift in planning decision-making, away from local councils towards “development corporations” under government control...

Completely agree with this. the decision reeks; and it's not the first highly dubious planning decision I've come across that is in the orbit of Boris Johnson. There are some very dubious decisions on his part when he was mayor as well, so no suprise Jenkins is following suit..

[Unknown_User]

Roberts decision is looking highly dubious and I was surprised more wasn't made of it when it first surfaced.

I wonder if Robert will be given use of the Downing St garden and the sole use of the BBC to state his innocence?

[bitchstewie]

DeejRC said:

How about we apply the law? Is he guilty of any particular law?

Apart from that though...who is he?

There have been lots of scandals where people were acting entirely within the law but had acted appallingly.

The law isn't always a good measure of reasonable or expected behaviour for a minister.

[Murph7355]

bhstewie said:

DeejRC said:

How about we apply the law? Is he guilty of any particular law?

Apart from that though...who is he?

There have been lots of scandals where people were acting entirely within the law but had acted appallingly.

The law isn't always a good measure of reasonable or expected behaviour for a minister.

Sadly (or not, depending upon view and who is questioning you at the time I guess) it's the only one against which absolute judgements might be made.

To the thread title, did sleaze ever actually go away? Power corrupts etc.

[hyphen]

mail said:

Mr Jenrick has been under pressure after approving a planning application by billionaire Tory donor Richard Desmond for 1,500 luxury flats in London.

He overruled official objections and personally approved the plans the day before Mr Desmond would have been liable for a new tax, which would have cost him £30million to £50million.

Mr Jenrick later withdrew his decision after being accused of ‘bias’ in the High Court over the Westferry Printworks development in London’s Docklands.

He needs to resign, immediately.

[bitchstewie]

Murph7355 said:

Sadly (or not, depending upon view and who is questioning you at the time I guess) it's the only one against which absolute judgements might be made.

To the thread title, did sleaze ever actually go away? Power corrupts etc.

Not so sure about that.

Think of MP's expenses and other things MP's have done that may not have been illegal but the public took a dim enough view that they stood down etc.

I wouldn't hold my breath with this lot even if Jenrick does come across as quite personable on TV.

[shed driver]

More revelations - how come he's still in a job? Or at least, why aren't we asking him some difficult questions?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/21/j...

SD.

[Unknown_User]

shed driver said:

More revelations - how come he's still in a job? Or at least, why aren't we asking him some difficult questions?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/21/j...

SD.

Well obviously Boris will not admonish Jenrick hasn't done anything wrong..........

Unless a popular young soccer player joins the campaign to expose tory sleaze!

[biggbn]

Sadly, nobody cares enough for this kind of malpractice to register much more (Moore?) than a raised eyebrow and a slightly miffed demeanour. These people can do what they like, say what they like with no fear of consequence.

[vonuber]

The whole planning approval and building of these developments in London is bent.

[Zirconia]

Committees have been asking him for info.
Letter for info to the Minister for nice video, where do I sign.
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1499...
Letter from Jenrick
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1572...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/22/n...

Wednesday might be an interesting time to watch parliament.

What time is the No11?

[Fundoreen]

all you need is a crooked boss and you never have to pay the price. Unless its to save him.

[hidetheelephants]

Well that's impressively bent. Good going for a government that's only 7 months in, not quite a match for Bernie and the bent donation but it's pretty st that 23 years later party finance is still a murky pit of lies, corrupt dealings and sts like Richard Desmond with entitlement complexes visible from space.