Correspondence from ACOBA to Dehenna Davison, breach of the Rules (My Death, My Decision)
Published 19 February 2025
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Dear Dehenna,
Thank you for your correspondence to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) enclosing your application for advice on working with My Death, My Decision.
Under the Ministerial Code and the government’s Business Appointment Rules (the Rules) all former Ministers are obligated to seek advice for two years after leaving office. The Code states that ‘Former ministers must ensure that no new appointments or employment are taken up, before ACOBA is able to provide its advice’.
You informed ACOBA that you signed a contract of paid employment with My Death, My Decision on 13 December 2024. You said it was only after signing the contract, you realised you were still subject to the Business Appointment Rules (the Rules), having left office within two years and therefore sought to put that right. You acknowledged this was an error on your part and apologised. You were correct that you should have sought the advice of the Committee before signing a contract with the organisation. Consequently, you are in breach of the government’s Business Appointment Rules.
Applicants have a personal responsibility to understand and comply with the Rules and to manage the propriety of appointments taken up after leaving government service. Failure to seek and await advice in this case was a breach of the government’s Rules and the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code.
Please see the correspondence enclosed, reporting this matter to the government, as the owners of the Rules. In line with ACOBA’s commitment to transparency, the exchange of correspondence will be published on our website.
The Rt Hon Lord Pickles