Led By Donkeys

2023 - 3 - 26

Post cover — Image courtesy of "HuffPost UK"

Michael Gove Swipes At Tories Caught In Fake Company Sting (HuffPost UK)

Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng told an undercover Led By Donkeys journalist they would work for £10000 a day.

All the video shows is Matt acting completely properly.” The former health secretary, who was stripped of the party whip by prime minister Rishi Sunak after he went on I’m A Celebrity… “I made it clear that any arrangement would have to be completely transparent and that whilst a member of parliament, I would only act within the terms of the code of conduct. Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said she was “pretty appalled and sickened” by the revelations, adding “there is a problem with the rules”. Brady said he made clear to those behind the hoax that any work would have to fall “within the terms of the code of conduct”. A spokesperson for Hancock said: “The accusation appears to be that Matt acted entirely properly and within the rules, which had just been unanimously adopted by Parliament. A spokesman for Hancock said the West Suffolk MP had “acted entirely properly and within the rules”. Led By Donkeys created a sham company, called Hanseong Consulting, by setting up a website and paying for a “fake virtual office” in the South Korean capital Seoul. “And ultimately, the really important thing is, is an MP delivering for their constituents, is a member of parliament doing everything they can to put public service first?” [Sophy Ridge](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sophy-ridge/) On Sunday programme that the MPs caught up in the sting had been operating “within the rules”. [Matt Hancock](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/matt-hancock/) and [Kwasi Kwarteng](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/kwasi-kwarteng/) told a fake overseas company their daily rate for consultancy would be £10,000. [levelling up](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/levelling-up/) secretary said it was important that MPs do everything they can to “put public service first”.

Kwarteng and Hancock agreed to advise fake South Korean ... (Sky News)

Former Conservative cabinet ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng told a fake overseas company looking for MP advisers that their daily rate for ...

We can work with the numbers." [Rishi Sunak](https://news.sky.com/topic/rishi-sunak-8527) after he was announced as a contestant in last year's series of ITV reality programme [I'm A Celebrity... "I made it clear that any arrangement would have to be completely transparent and that whilst a Member of Parliament, I would only act within the terms of the Code of Conduct. In a statement sent to Sky News, the senior Tory said he made clear to those behind the hoax that any work would have to fall "within the terms of the Code of Conduct". A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said in response to the sting operation: "The accusation appears to be that Matt acted entirely properly and within the rules, which had just been unanimously adopted by parliament. It is 10,000 sterling." [Sir Gavin Williamson](https://news.sky.com/topic/gavin-williamson-7225), former minister [Stephen Hammond](https://news.sky.com/topic/stephen-hammond-9816) and [Sir Graham Brady](https://news.sky.com/topic/sir-graham-brady-9806), chairman of the 1922 Committee, an influential backbench body. The group sold the "company" as one with aims to expand into the UK and Europe, asking any would-be advisers to attend pretend board meetings held in a mix of locations, including allegedly in South Korea. [Westminster Accounts: Search for your MP](https://news.sky.com/story/westminster-accounts-search-for-your-mp-or-enter-your-full-postcode-12771627) [Westminster Accounts: The story so far](https://news.sky.com/story/the-westminster-accounts-12786091) A spokesman for Mr Hancock said the West Suffolk MP had "acted entirely properly and within the rules". Mr Kwarteng, whose mini budget in September sent the value of the pound tumbling and mortgage rates soaring, went on to clarify that he would prefer the rate to be in pound sterling. [Mr Hancock](https://news.sky.com/topic/matt-hancock-8131) and [Mr Kwarteng](https://news.sky.com/topic/kwasi-kwarteng-9579) both set out five-figure sums for what they would expect to be paid to advise a non-existent firm in South Korea.

Led By Donkeys fool Matt Hancock into revealing staggering ... (Yahoo News UK)

Former cabinet ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng told a fake overseas company looking for MP advisers their daily rate for consultancy would be ...

PM must strip Tory MPs of the whip after Led By Donkey's sting ... (Morning Star Online)

In a sting operation set up by campaign group Led By Donkeys, former cabinet ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng set out eye-watering sums for what they ...

With a regular donation to our monthly Fighting Fund, we can continue to thumb our noses at the fat cats and tell truth to power. We can work with the numbers.” The Morning Star is unique, as a lone socialist voice in a sea of corporate media. You can read 5 more articles this month You can read 5 more article this month This is the last article you can read this month

Coventry politician calls for MPs to be banned from second jobs after ... (Coventry Live)

MPs are permitted to seek employment outside of Parliament and there is no accusation of wrongdoing. A trailer for the Led By Donkeys investigation states that ...

I also made it clear that whilst I could be flexible in attending international meetings in person, this would be subject to some important votes or commitments in Westminster.” Sir Graham Brady said: “Having decided to leave the Commons at the next election, I have received a number of approaches regarding future opportunities. All five MPs who held a so-called “interview” with the campaigners have been approached for comment by PA news agency. All the video shows is Matt acting completely properly.” “I made it clear that any arrangement would have to be completely transparent and that whilst a Member of Parliament, I would only act within the terms of the Code of Conduct. And while successive governments have promised action on MPs’ outside interests, little appears to have changed.”

Suffolk MP Matt Hancock caught in Led by Donkeys sting (East Anglian Daily Times)

Former cabinet minister and Suffolk MP Matt Hancock told a fake company his daily rate for consultancy would be £10000.

“It’s completely untrue to suggest any wrongdoing and therefore absurd to bring Mr Hancock into this story through the illegal publication of a private conversation. A spokesperson for Mr Hancock said: “The accusation appears to be that Matt acted entirely properly and within the rules, which had just been unanimously adopted by Parliament. It is 10,000 sterling.”

Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng discussed fees with fake firm (BBC News)

Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng met with a sham company in a stunt set up by campaign group Led by Donkeys.

His spokesman said: "The accusation appears to be that Matt acted entirely properly and within the rules, which had just been unanimously adopted by Parliament. He added: "All the video shows is Matt acting completely properly. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove defended MPs' right to consider taking on outside work, as long it did not interfere with representing their constituents. In a statement to the group, he said he had an "exploratory discussion" with someone purporting to be from the firm, adding: "I made it clear that any arrangement would have to be completely transparent and that whilst a Member of Parliament, I would only act within the terms of the Code of Conduct." The BBC has not seen the full footage of the meetings and the MPs appear to have been asked different questions. Four of the five MPs who agreed to a meeting with the fake company are Tories.