Claims Baroness Warsi breached Ministerial code ‘just mischief making’

THE CONSERVATIVES have dismissed the suggestion that their party co-chairman Baroness Warsi breached the Ministerial code by “promoting her private business” at a party function with the Prime Minister David Cameron.

Reports claimed she paid for a potential customer of a business she is involved with to attend the Conservative Friends of Pakistan launch event last month at the Savoy Hotel in central London.

Fareed Nasir, the founder of Chunky Chicken fast-food restaurant chain, was quoted in a newspaper as saying he was invited because he was working closely over a possible deal with Rupert’s Recipes – in which Lady Warsi owns a stake.

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However, a Tory spokesman said that an suggestion of impropriety was “simply mischief making”.

A Conservative party spokesman said: “This was a party event organised by the Conservative Friends of Pakistan to reach out to potential supporters within the British Pakistani community.

“All those who bought tables were fully compliance-checked to ensure they were permissible donors, and everyone who attended was subject to the normal security arrangements. This was a party political event. No gift or hospitality was received by Baroness Warsi and no issue arises in relation to the Ministerial Code.”

It follows a series of allegations surrounding Lady Warsi. The Lords’ Standards Commissioner is looking into reports that she claimed for accommodation expenses while staying at a friend’s house rent-free. Lady Warsi says appropriate payments were made. In a separate matter Mr Cameron referred her failure to declare a business interest to his independent adviser on Ministerial interests.

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