Robert Jenrick losing trust over Desmond deal integrity – The Yorkshire Post says

First housing. A key part of this brief is to make all tower blocks safe following the Grenfell Tower tragedy three years ago and progress is slow.

Next communities. Not only is the Minister overseeing the local response to Covid-19, and also devolution policy, but, more recently, the impact of the emerging Black Lives Matter movement on community relations.

Finally local government. Town halls desperately need a new financial settlement with the Government to avoid declaring themselves bankrupt. It’s that serious.

Yet Mr Jenrick cannot give these issues, and many more, his full focus when questions about his dealings with multi-millionaire Tory donor Richard Desmond continue to resurface.

These centre on documents that the Minister approved the £1bn Westferry Printworks development in London so former media mogul Mr Desmond’s Northern and Shell company would not be liable for a £50m levy to the local council.

Not only did MPs have to pass a motion in the Commons to compel the release of key documents for scrutiny, but it undermines confidence in Mr Jenrick who recently faced awkward accusations over his family’s own visiting arrangements during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Given this, the Minister’s predicament appears to be a perilous one as questions of impartiality and integrity grow. Mr Jenrick’s fate could depend on whether there are any further revelations to follow – and the resilience of Boris Johnson.

But the lesson is a familiar one. Both he – and other politicians under such scrutiny – would save themselves a lot of time, and heartache, if they were open and transparent in the first place. It is called trust.

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James Mitchinson

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