Jonathan Reynolds’ shadow, Andrew Griffith, has written to Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards Laurie Magnus regarding Guido’s story on his CV inflation. He says:
“The Business Secretary has falsely claimed to be a solicitor on numerous occasions, including whilst serving as a Minister. He has shamefully tried to blame his staff yet this wasn’t just an online profile – the words came out of his own mouth. This is exactly what brings public life into disrepute and as a former businessman, I know that this sort of misrepresentation would not be tolerated elsewhere.
He should do the decent thing, apologise and step down but 24 hours in, there is no sign of him doing so. Accordingly, I have written to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards asking him to investigate.”
Reform has just called on the business secretary to be sacked by Starmer. Laurie Magnus being kept busy by this government…
Read the full letter below:
“Dear Sir Laurie,
I am writing to you in your capacity as the Government’s Independent Adviser on Minister’s Interests to ask you to open an investigation into potential breaches of the ministerial code by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP after he repeatedly misrepresenting himself to be a solicitor whilst serving as a Minister of the Crown.
As you may be aware, solicitors enjoy special legal protection enshrined in both the Solicitors Act 1974 (Section 21) and the Legal Services Act 2007 (Section 17):
“Any unqualified person who wilfully pretends to be, or takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is, qualified or recognised by law as qualified to act as a solicitor shall be guilty of an offence”
and
“It is an offence for a person-
(a)wilfully to pretend to be entitled to carry on any activity which is a reserved legal activity when that person is not so entitled, or
(b)with the intention of implying falsely that that person is so entitled, to take or use any name, title or description.”
By repeatedly referring to himself as a solicitor on his website, online CV (LinkedIn), and social media as well as in conversations with high-profile businesspeople such as Luke Johnson, the Secretary of State appears to have knowingly mislead the public in a manner not compatible with the Ministerial Code and the standards rightly expected of those in high public office.
As I have said previously, I have always had great respect for you and your extensive career prior to your current appointment and am confident in your ability to provide clarity on this matter.
I am therefore asking that you proactively initiate an investigation into this matter in line with your powers outlined in the Ministerial Code.”
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”