Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - James Chapman

Updated 20 February 2018

James Chapman left his role as a Special Adviser at the Department for Exiting the EU in April 2017.

1. Adviser, JH Communications

The Committee was asked to consider an application from James Chapman for advice on taking up an appointment as a freelance adviser at a new company called JH Communications. He described the role as offering strategic advice to clients on how to handle press and media issues they may face and strategic advice on how Government might handle issues affecting them.

He explained he will be working for Bell Pottinger’s CEO James Henderson at his new business following the collapse of the company. He noted this work will be identical in nature to that in which he was previously engaged at Bell Pottinger. This is a paid role, likely to involve approximately 3 days per week.

Mr Chapman explained that the job might involve some occasional contact with Government but this would not include direct lobbying of Ministers or officials. He said he would not use contacts made during his period in Government to seek to obtain information that might give his employer any unfair advantage.

The Committee noted that Philip Rycroft, Permanent Secretary at DExEU and Tom Scholar, Permanent Secretary at HMT have no reservations about this appointment, subject to imposing conditions restricting Mr Chapman from drawing on privileged information or lobbying.

The Committee noted that it has already provided advice on Mr Chapman’s appointment with Bell Pottinger and, since he will be doing a very similar job for Mr Henderson’s new business, the same considerations apply. The appointment cannot reasonably be seen as a reward for decisions made in office given his very limited interactions with Bell Pottinger while in Government.

The Committee considered the risk that this appointment could afford the company with an unfair advantage. It was persuaded by the Department’s assessment that he is unlikely to hold any information that could confer any direct competitive advantage, given that the Government’s strategy on withdrawing from the EU has been made public. Any residual risk should be managed by the privileged information and lobbying restrictions set out below.

The Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, this appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in the Crown Service; and
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of JH Communications or its clients, or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure business on behalf of JH Communications or its clients.

John Wood recused himself from this case.

The letter containing the Committee’s advice was sent in January 2018 and the appointment was taken up later the same month.

2. Partner, Bell Pottinger

Mr Chapman sought the Committee’s advice about accepting a paid role as a Partner with Bell Pottinger, a multinational public relations and marketing company, which focuses on a range of communications disciplines; financial and corporate, political, engagement and litigation.

When considering the application, the Committee took into account that Mr Chapman said he would be offering strategic advice to clients on how to handle press and media issues, as well as strategic advice on how the Government may be expected to handle issues affecting them.

The Committee also took into account comments made by the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) - it confirmed that whilst in office, Mr Chapman’s role as a Special Adviser focussed on media and communications advice on the public delivery of the Government’s strategy on leaving the EU. Therefore, the information that Mr Chapman had access to is now available in the public domain. DExEU also confirmed that Mr Chapman had ‘very limited’ interactions with Bell Pottinger whilst he was in office, and had no official dealings with them. Neither DExEU, nor Mr Chapman’s previous department (HMT), had any concerns about him taking up this appointment.

The Committee advised that, under the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in the Crown Service; and
• for two years from his last day in Crown service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Bell Pottinger Private Communications Ltd, or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of Bell Pottinger Private Communications Ltd or its clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Chapman in May 2017 and the appointment was taken up in June.