Summary of business appointments applications - Nick Timothy
Published 8 August 2017
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Nick Timothy left his role as Chief of Staff at No.10 in April 2017
1. Columnist, the Daily Telegraph
2. Columnist, The Sun
Mr Timothy sought the Committee’s advice about writing a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph and a monthly column for The Sun.
The Committee noted Mr Timothy had met with various newspapers from time to time whilst in post at No.10 (and in his previous role as a Special Adviser at the Home Office). This included having met with the editors of both these newspapers. However the Committee also took into account that he and the Cabinet Office confirmed this was not in relation to any contractual dealings with either newspaper.
The Committee took into consideration the Cabinet Office’s view on this appointment - that whilst Mr Timothy would have had access to a range of information given his role at No.10, the conditions set out below would mitigate against any potential risk this might pose. The Cabinet Office therefore had no reservations, under the Business Appointment Rules, with Mr Timothy taking these roles up. The Committee also noted that as a Special Adviser, Mr Timothy is required to confirm in writing to his department that he recognises that he continues to be bound by the provisions of the criminal law (including the Official Secrets Act), which protect certain categories of information, and by his duty of confidentiality owed to the Crown.)
Taking into account these factors, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, the Permanent Secretary accepted the Committee’s advice that these appointments be subject to the following conditions:
- that Nick Timothy 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 Crown service; and
- for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying Government on behalf of the the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, or their subsidiaries, nor should he make use, directly or indirectly, of his Government and/or Crown service contacts to influence policy or secure business on their behalf.
The Committee wrote its advice letter in late July and the appointments were subsequently announced in early August 2017.
Baroness Angela Browning recused herself from these applications.