Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Rt Hon Nick Clegg

Updated 26 July 2016

Rt Hon Nick Clegg left his role as Deputy Prime Minister in May 2015.

1. Trustee, Radix

Mr Clegg sought the Committee’s advice about an unpaid appointment as a Trustee of Radix, a new think tank.

The Committee noted that Mr Clegg’s role would involve overseeing the activities and finances of the organisation, along with the other trustees. They noted that Mr Clegg had no dealings with Radix while in ministerial office, and that his former department had no concerns about him taking up the post.

The Committee advised Mr Clegg that it could see no reason why he should not take up this role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time as a Minister; and
• For two years from his last day in ministerial office he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Radix.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Clegg in July 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.

2. Leading a Commission on Social Inequality, Social Market Foundation

Mr Clegg sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a part-time role leading a commission on tackling inequality in education.

Taking into account all of the circumstances, including the fact that the role will not require Mr Clegg to lobby government and the fact that his former department had no concerns regarding the propriety of this appointment, the Committee saw no reason why he should not take up the role, subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him in his time as a Minister; and

• For two years from his last day in ministerial office he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the Social Market Foundation, or any of its parent companies, subsidiaries, or clients.

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Clegg in October 2015 and he took up the role in January 2016.

3. Commissioner, Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP)

Mr Clegg sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a part-time, unpaid appointment with the GCDP leading a diplomatic project which will seek to encourage an evidence based approach amongst European leaders.

Taking into account all the circumstances, including the fact that his former department had no concerns regarding the propriety of this appointment, the Committee advised Mr Clegg that it saw no reason why he should not accept this appointment subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time as a Minister; and

• For two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the GCDP, or any of its clients

The Committee wrote its advice letter to Mr Clegg in October 2015 and the appointment was taken up in November 2015.

4. Columnist, London Evening Standard

Mr Clegg sought advice on accepting a role as a fortnightly columnist with the London Evening Standard. The Committee took into account that he had met with some of the newspaper’s employees while in office, but that this was contact of a nature that would be expected with newspaper proprietors, including various interviews, and that there is no other relationship between his former department and the newspaper.

5. Speaker, News Presenters Ltd

Mr Clegg sought to become a speaker with News Presenters Ltd, making speeches on an ad hoc basis, and being listed on their website. The Committee noted that he had had no dealings with the organisation while in ministerial office.

6. Trustee, Social Mobility Foundation

Mr Clegg sought advice on accepting a role as a Trustee of the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF). When considering this, the Committee took into account that he had had some dealings with SMF while in office, as he hosted a work experience placement in his parliamentary office, that he had engaged with them on social mobility strategy, and that they had won the contract to deliver the Whitehall Social Mobility Internship Programme. However, they also noted that this is an unpaid role, would involve no contact with Government, and that Mr Clegg’s former department had no concerns.

7. Director, Open Reason

Mr Clegg sought advice on establishing a new, not for profit limited company, consisting of a policy and research team, to support his ongoing role as a public figure interested in promoting debate and fresh thinking. The Committee noted that this will not be a consultancy and will not engage in lobbying Government, or represent clients or organisations.

The Committee also considered Mr Clegg’s initial commissions through this company, which would be from: Open Society Foundations, Virgin Group Holdings Ltd and the Resolution Trust.

Taking into account all the circumstances, including the fact that the three month standard waiting period for former Cabinet Ministers has already expired, the Committee advised Mr Clegg that it saw no reason why he should not accept these appointments subject to the following conditions:

• That he should not draw on [disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations or persons to which this advice refers] any privileged information available to him as a Minister;

• For two years from his last day in ministerial office he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of his new company, the Social Mobility Foundation, News Presenters Ltd, the London Evening Standard, or any of their parent companies, subsidiaries, or clients; and

• Once his new company is established, for two years from his last day in ministerial office, he should make a case to the Committee directly that each individual commission the company wishes to undertake would be permissible under the approved terms of the consultancy. (If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application).

The Committee’s advice letter about these four appointments was sent to Mr Clegg in August 2015 and the appointments were first taken up in September 2015.